We spend our lives learning how to live. The world is a complicated place. We get to a point where we have knowledge and experience, and we look around trying to solve problems. With an eye to help and being a servant, we try to help others.

We want to share. We want to help. We want to love. But sometimes, we think others should thank us for telling them what to do, how to do it, or when to do it. Since childhood, isn’t this how we’ve been told to react to someone who has gone out of their way to help us? Isn’t that what being polite and grateful is about? Heaven help us, we think that they should learn from us, be like us, and value what we have.

Where is the humility in this? With closer examination, neither the giving nor the thanking is an issue. So what is the issue then, but simply the expectation. What is humility if not simply abandoning expectation, leaving behind the expectation to be thanked, to be repaid, to be thought well of, to be praised, to be rewarded, to be noticed.

Humility is the ability to abandon expectation, both positive and negative. If we carry the love of God to others, then why be troubled by whether we are praised, insulted, or ignored? Let the faith and hope that God’s love brings us be shared regardless of whether others understand the motivation.

Let us begin each interaction by looking to what others need and want. Let us start with a question not an answer. Let us start by listening, not speaking. Let us start and end with love, not arrogance. Then the light and love that we share can shine brightest in a world that is filled with need.

God, forgive us each time we let pride in our accomplishments overshadow our gratitude for what you have shared with us. May we not expect to be given but grateful that we have been given love in such abundance that we should never want. May hope and faith lead us to share with others with no expectation other than your love being there for us every moment, Amen.

The devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.