The key word here is unconditional; a gift is given unconditionally with no “strings” attached. If it isn’t unconditional, it is a trade, not a gift, expecting something in return. A true unconditional gift expects nothing in return.
We witness this when we see a parent caring for a new born; unconditional care with no possibility of return. As we age and watch those around us caring for elderly parents, that same unconditional love shows itself in the hours of caring for the same parent that cared for them as an infant. They willingly changed your diapers and now you willingly change their diapers; unconditional love.
Our Heavenly Father offers us an unconditional gift, the gift of salvation, if we just freely accept it. There are no strings attached. We cannot give anything back to Him. What can you give the Creator of everything? We cannot do more things, go to church more, pray more, read His Word more, etc. All we can do is accepted it as His unconditional gift given in love and follow His leading; what Scripture calls “the faith of a child”.
Once we receive His unconditional gift, we can more easily understand what unconditional means. We ask how can I be given eternity with God without somehow earning it? Is it really unconditional? We feel the need to repay Him. Yet He gives it unconditionally, if we just accept it; unconditional is unconditional.
I believe that unconditional giving is the only time a gift is really a gift. The blessing we sense in the process of giving is better than anything the receiver can give us back. A parent caring for a child senses that blessing. I believe that parent/ child interaction is the closest comparison we have to what our Heavenly Father feels when His gift is accepted by us. The child can’t even begin to understand what the parent feels. The same with us and God. How can we know what God feels about us? Our understanding is truly child-like.
Imagine yourself a helpless baby being given the gift of love from your parent. You sense the safe, secure and warmth of a loving parent without the ability to understand fully what it is. In our relationship with God we are like that baby and He is the parent. Now try to imagine what our Heavenly Father feels toward us when we accept His gift and become His child. Think about the difference in understanding and awareness of these relationships; us to our baby versus our Heavenly Father to us. The thought overwhelms me.
Just for a moment consider what the world would be like if all relationships were built on the principle of unconditional giving. Imagine a husband caring for, providing for and protecting his wife without the thought of getting something in return; “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church”. Imagine a wife that respected and nurtured her husband caring for his every need without the thought of something in return; “Wives love your husbands as you love the Lord”. They would both feel totally loved and cared for without trying to please themselves. I believe that is what God intended relationships to be.
It is our fallen state that asks “what’s in it for me”. The flesh says, “I will do for her if she does for me”. The Spirit says, “Love unconditionally”. The age-old battle between the flesh and the Spirit lives on. The good news is we can choose which voice we listen to. The paradox of living Biblically is the opposite of our human nature and is always better. We can never “get” enough of anything to be satisfied, but giving unconditionally always bring satisfaction. God’s ways are amazing.
Unconditional Relationships are power by Unconditional Love. Think of the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Read each thought slowly.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Love is a verb, an action word, not a feeling. Unconditional Love allows Unconditional Relationships. The Lord wants it with us and desires we have it with each other. May the Spirit guide us all to this understanding, and through it let His light touch this world.
Christian Life Coach 