Love Is Not a Transaction
"But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
The world treats love like a business deal. If I give to you, then you should give back to me. If I do something kind, I expect something in return. If I invest my time, energy, or emotions, there should be a return on that investment. Love becomes conditional, based on performance and reciprocity.
That mindset is everywhere. In relationships, people keep score, measuring how much they are giving versus how much they are receiving. Friendships are built on convenience, and if one person stops benefiting from the relationship, they walk away. Even in marriage, love can become an exchange. As long as both sides are satisfied, they stay. But the moment one feels like they are not getting enough in return, love is questioned.
That is not love. That is a transaction.
God’s love does not work that way. Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He did not wait for us to deserve it. He did not demand something in return first. He gave freely, knowing that many would never love Him back. That is what real love looks like.
Love is not about what you can get. It is about what you can give. The world tells you that giving should lead to receiving, but Jesus taught something different. He washed the feet of those who would betray Him. He healed people who would never thank Him. He sacrificed everything, not because He was expecting something in return, but because true love gives without conditions.
Are you loving like the world, expecting something in return? Or are you loving like Jesus, giving freely, without keeping score? The world’s version of love will always leave you disappointed because it is rooted in selfishness. God’s love is different. It is pure, sacrificial, and never dependent on what He gets in return. That is the kind of love that lasts.
The world treats love like a business deal. If I give to you, then you should give back to me. If I do something kind, I expect something in return. If I invest my time, energy, or emotions, there should be a return on that investment. Love becomes conditional, based on performance and reciprocity.
That mindset is everywhere. In relationships, people keep score, measuring how much they are giving versus how much they are receiving. Friendships are built on convenience, and if one person stops benefiting from the relationship, they walk away. Even in marriage, love can become an exchange. As long as both sides are satisfied, they stay. But the moment one feels like they are not getting enough in return, love is questioned.
That is not love. That is a transaction.
God’s love does not work that way. Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He did not wait for us to deserve it. He did not demand something in return first. He gave freely, knowing that many would never love Him back. That is what real love looks like.
Love is not about what you can get. It is about what you can give. The world tells you that giving should lead to receiving, but Jesus taught something different. He washed the feet of those who would betray Him. He healed people who would never thank Him. He sacrificed everything, not because He was expecting something in return, but because true love gives without conditions.
Are you loving like the world, expecting something in return? Or are you loving like Jesus, giving freely, without keeping score? The world’s version of love will always leave you disappointed because it is rooted in selfishness. God’s love is different. It is pure, sacrificial, and never dependent on what He gets in return. That is the kind of love that lasts.
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