You get what you give

When I was younger, I remember my parents and grandparents teaching me “you have to give respect in order to get respect.” It’s something that still sticks with me today. It’s a little easier to live this concept regarding something such as “respect”, but it’s much more difficult to say we have to stop judging someone or we will be judged.

Jesus teaches his disciples the things we, admittedly, do not like to hear.

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6:36-38)

As I think upon these words of Jesus, I am reminded of how this plays out around us today. For example, as millions of Ukrainians flee their country because of the Russian invasion, most are ending up in Poland. That country has welcomed them with open arms. The people of Poland have offered coats, socks, food, water, and even leaving baby strollers for mothers to pick up and use. But, it’s not just the Polish that have stepped up to help Ukraine.

One of the most remarkable things I heard was where people were booking Airbnb rooms from Ukrainians in Kyiv just as a way to get money into the hands of Ukrainians they had never met. People from around the world were booking nights in Kyiv knowing they were obviously not going to be staying there, but they were wanting to get money to the Ukrainians. There were no stipulations or judgments about the people who owned the Airbnb rentals. Perhaps some were wealthy and did not need the money. Maybe most of them were homeless and the money was essential for survival. The reality that strangers did not judge, but just reached out to help, is what Jesus was speaking about to his disciples.

I think of these situations and then I am reminded how many times we judge those who may need help. How many times I have turned my head away at the man on the side of the highway with a sign asking for money. I have thought how many times I have driven past a woman holding a sign saying she was hungry, only to think she would use any money I give her for drugs or alcohol.

If we are challenged with anything today, let it be a challenge to be more like the people of Poland and around the world who opened their hearts, their lives, their wallets, or whatever they had to give, to those less fortunate without judging or condemning.