I have a question
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i don't know where it is in the Bible but: no matter what kind of gift we are given, proper etiquette is not to expect anything back. LOVE DOES NOT WANT WHAT IT DOESN'T HAVE! love does not own any payback. love is giving without receiving. if someone thinks about receiving payment for a gift given, your intentions are not heartfelt.
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I can't remember anything that addresses what you're asking specifically. There may be some verses that could be interpreted that way; like Luke 6:30-36. Maybe that's what you're thinking of:
"Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."
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The first verse that came to mind when I read the OP was...
Romans 11:29 - "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance [/irrevocable - G278 - ametamelētos ]."
G278 - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g278/kjv/tr/0-1/
"ἀμεταμέλητος ametamélētos, am-et-am-el'-ay-tos; from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G3338; irrevocable:—without repentance, not to be repented of."
[and]
"
[bold and underline mine]
Romans 11:29 - "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance [/irrevocable - G278 - ametamelētos ]."
G278 - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g278/kjv/tr/0-1/
"ἀμεταμέλητος ametamélētos, am-et-am-el'-ay-tos; from G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G3338; irrevocable:—without repentance, not to be repented of."
[and]
"
- not repentant of, unregretted"
[bold and underline mine]
I don't recall the Bible saying that. The content of a gift can itself be the experience of doing something, such as giving someone the opportunity to experience driving a Ferrari for an hour, where the gift requires them to do the work of driving it in order to have that experience, but where doing that work has nothing to do with contributing anything towards earning the opportunity to drive it. So what someone does with a gift can be intrinsic to what that gift is. Likewise, the content of God's gift of eternal life is the experience of knowing God and Jesus (John 17:3) and the gift of God's law is His instructions for how to have that experience (Exodus 33:13, Matthew 7:23).
Thank you, Everyone, for your replies.
However:
I know of all the scriptures y'all are sharing... but no... these are not what I'm thinking. It's like say I give a homeless person $5; and I ask them, "what will you do with it"... We're not supposed to do that. I know this.... I seem to remember seeing something about this somewhere in the Bible.... :/
Thanks!
However:
I know of all the scriptures y'all are sharing... but no... these are not what I'm thinking. It's like say I give a homeless person $5; and I ask them, "what will you do with it"... We're not supposed to do that. I know this.... I seem to remember seeing something about this somewhere in the Bible.... :/
Thanks!
The first division of the Mishnah deals with how to treat the poor, needy, and local Levites.
B. Selected quotes
1. Ecclesiasticus (also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sirach) 3:30, "as water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin" (NRSV)
2. Tobit 4:6-11, 6"for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness7give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. 11Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High." (NRSV)
3. Tobit 12:8-9, "8Prayer and fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. 9For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life." (NRSV)
C. The last quote from Tobit 12:8-9 shows the problem developing. Human actions/human merits were seen as the mechanism for both forgiveness and abundance.
This concept developed further in the Septuagint where the Greek term for "almsgiving" (eleēmosunē) became a synonym for "righteousness" (dikaiosunē). They could be substituted for each other in translating the Hebrew "righteousness" (BDB 842, God's covenant love and loyalty, cf. Deut. 6:25; 24:13; Isa. 1:27; 28:17; 59:16; Dan. 4:27).
D. Human acts of compassion became a goal in themselves to achieve one's personal abundance here and salvation at death. The act itself, instead of the motive behind the act, became theologically preeminent. God looks at the heart, then judges the work of the hand. This was the teaching of the rabbis, but it somehow got lost in individual self-righteousness (cf. Micah 6:8).
B. Selected quotes
1. Ecclesiasticus (also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sirach) 3:30, "as water extinguishes a blazing fire, so almsgiving atones for sin" (NRSV)
2. Tobit 4:6-11, 6"for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness7give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. 8If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. 9So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. 10For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. 11Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High." (NRSV)
3. Tobit 12:8-9, "8Prayer and fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. 9For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life." (NRSV)
C. The last quote from Tobit 12:8-9 shows the problem developing. Human actions/human merits were seen as the mechanism for both forgiveness and abundance.
This concept developed further in the Septuagint where the Greek term for "almsgiving" (eleēmosunē) became a synonym for "righteousness" (dikaiosunē). They could be substituted for each other in translating the Hebrew "righteousness" (BDB 842, God's covenant love and loyalty, cf. Deut. 6:25; 24:13; Isa. 1:27; 28:17; 59:16; Dan. 4:27).
D. Human acts of compassion became a goal in themselves to achieve one's personal abundance here and salvation at death. The act itself, instead of the motive behind the act, became theologically preeminent. God looks at the heart, then judges the work of the hand. This was the teaching of the rabbis, but it somehow got lost in individual self-righteousness (cf. Micah 6:8).
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I do not think there is a scripture about not asking what a person will do with money, or something we give them, for it would seem it would be good to be concerned what they do with it.
Many people that give to the homeless, or someone asking for money on the street, would like to know what they will do with it, and many think they will buy alcohol, and cigarettes with it.
Jesus said give to the poor and needy which is for their needs, and if we are not concerned what they will do with it then it does not make sense.
We might not get an honest answer but at least we want them to do the right thing with the money if they are in a situation of needing their needs met but are neglecting that.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
This is the only thing I can see which lend asking for nothing in return but it does not say do not ask them what they will do with the money.
Which being a Christian we should always want them to take care of their needs with what they give them, and not their wants for God only blesses us with our needs, and not our wants.
If I have doubt what they will do with the money I will want to know what they will do with the money for I am not going to let the money be thrown away on alcohol, and cigarettes, or for their wants that they do not need.
Many people that give to the homeless, or someone asking for money on the street, would like to know what they will do with it, and many think they will buy alcohol, and cigarettes with it.
Jesus said give to the poor and needy which is for their needs, and if we are not concerned what they will do with it then it does not make sense.
We might not get an honest answer but at least we want them to do the right thing with the money if they are in a situation of needing their needs met but are neglecting that.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
This is the only thing I can see which lend asking for nothing in return but it does not say do not ask them what they will do with the money.
Which being a Christian we should always want them to take care of their needs with what they give them, and not their wants for God only blesses us with our needs, and not our wants.
If I have doubt what they will do with the money I will want to know what they will do with the money for I am not going to let the money be thrown away on alcohol, and cigarettes, or for their wants that they do not need.
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I don't think it's there, other than the verses that have been quoted. In my opinion, it would be unloving to give a homeless guy money, if you knew he was just going to spend it on more drugs or alcohol. A better gift might be food or drink.
Jesus also acknowledges there are good gifts and bad gifts, and that though we are evil, we wouldn't give bad gifts to our children.
Matthew 7:6 - 11
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Jesus also acknowledges there are good gifts and bad gifts, and that though we are evil, we wouldn't give bad gifts to our children.
Matthew 7:6 - 11
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew, Chapter 5, KJV
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Luke, Chapter 6: KJV
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Scripture is clear, IMO, if we give with Agape love, we are not to worry about what the recipient does with the gift. Otherwise, our gift is of no value to us with regards to any heavenly blessing we may receive.
42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Luke, Chapter 6: KJV
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Scripture is clear, IMO, if we give with Agape love, we are not to worry about what the recipient does with the gift. Otherwise, our gift is of no value to us with regards to any heavenly blessing we may receive.
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