God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7
Every month my kids get pocket money. We want them to learn that nothing in life is just given to you and that you have to work hard to get what you want. So, the pocket money that they receive is based on the jobs that they have done and the points that they have collected through the month. The rewards are not just financial but there are lots of fun activities that they can unlock. The nice part of this system is that they learn the value of earning something but also that when they have purchased a reward, that it is not based on our generosity. They own it and can use it however they want.
This is how Jesus frames the merciful. We can show mercy in a variety of ways. We can give to the poor, we can forgive hurts against us, we can be generous with our time or resources, we can respond to evil with love. What Jesus says is that when we step into the way of life that God has for us, we are rewarded with mercy of our own.
Sometimes my kids find something that they really want and can not afford on their own. They then say to me, can we combine pocket money. This is not an even 50-50 split. When I combine my money with theirs they always win because I have more income. This is the same as our relationship with God. He does not repay us in a karma kind of way. It is not the mercy that we give is returned to us. The mercy that God wants to pour out is disproportionate, like an adult sharing his salary with a child’s pocket money. He beckons us into a life that is shaped by mercy.
To really access more and more of the unending wealth and wonders of the kingdom, Jesus invites us to participate. Mercy flows through his followers.
