Why most of us are irrational about what we expect to receive …

Many people today (including many professing Christians) live life with a persistent low-level of disappointment.

Oh, we usually don’t admit it to anyone, but the reality is that a lot of us expect to receive more in life than we actually do. That’s because we’re just irrational enough to think that we can be at least moderately stingy as givers (not just with money but in other ways, such as with forgiving, serving, caring, etc.), but receive in life far beyond how we give. Even a secular group like the Ad Council took note of how we often think so highly of ourselves even for doing nothing, like these examples shared by pastor Monty Newton:

One of the Ad Council’s most effective public service commercials is the “Don’t Almost Give” campaign. One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of steps. The narrator says, “This man almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who almost gave money.” After a pause the narrator continues, “Almost gave. How good is almost giving? About as good as almost walking.”

Another ad shows a homeless man curled up in a ball atop a pile of rags. He is covered with a ratty bed sheet. The narrator begins, “This is Jack Thomas. Today someone almost bought Jack something to eat. Someone almost brought him to a shelter. Someone almost gave him a warm blanket.” Then after a pause the narrator drives his point home, “And Jack Thomas? Well, he almost made it through the night.”

We “credit” ourselves as having done something by thinking about doing things, but almost doing something is the same as not doing anything. And expecting to receive far beyond the measure of what we give is just as irrational. Jesus explained that like this:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back,” Luke 6:37-38.

We judge people by how they look, how they drive, what they say, political opinions, what they wear, and a myriad other ways … yet, do not want to be judged by anyone at any time..

We soundly condemn others for the smallest mistakes … yet, want to be tolerated for our own foibles.

We expect to receive more than what we give.

It doesn’t work that way.

If you’re disappointed in what you’re getting from life, examine how you measure out what you’re giving (in more ways than one).

Scotty