In American culture we try to live by the principle “get what you pay for,” or least we expect it. That means if we pay or work for “x” then we want to reap the conventional benefits of “x.” Sounds good, but we all know that reality doesn’t always deliver on that. True, sometimes we get more, but often times we get less or even nothing.

Maybe you bought the $200 warranty on the Gizmotron, and it promised to fix or replace itself if something trivial or nuclear happened. Well, it happened and the warranty loop-holed you into not paying up. Insert emotional response here…

The challenge with get-what-you-pay-for mindset is that it doesn’t always apply to things like relationships. And Christ is unapologetic about teaching us that it does not. Example: Sometimes I invest tons of our energy into someone, and they rarely or never seem to give back what I paid for. Seems unfair and makes me question everything Christ teaches about why to love, serve and lead the people in my life no matter what they do not give back.

Come on, we’ve all asked ourselves why we keep putting up with that person or those people; they never pay anything but heartache.

But then stop and ask yourself: Is God always getting what He paid for in me? He sent His Son to die for my sins, to suffer and pay for my guilt and baggage and heartache. Does He ever scratch His head and think, I’m definitely not getting a good return on my investment with him or her?

Hmmm? Ouch.

The bottom line is, we hope not. In fact, He promises us that He doesn’t, and that we don’t want Him too. His ask of you and me? Give away that same grace and patience to those people that I give to you.