Freebies (Friday Devotional)

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." 

- Matthew 10:8

There is a tradition at certain restaurants that, as an act of hospitality, certain food is given to you free of charge before you ever receive your entrée. At a fried fish joint, you can stuff yourself on saltines and butter crackers. At a steakhouse, they’ll bring out fresh bread. And most famously, at any reputable Tex-Mex restaurant you get limitless baskets of chips with salsa.

The funny thing about this tradition is how it affects your perception of the restaurant—you start to judge the place as much on the free food as what you’re paying for. Texas Roadhouse gets forgiven if your medium steak comes out well done, because you started the night with four dinner rolls slathered in cinnamon butter. Your enchiladas at Chuy’s are forgotten, but the creamy jalapeño dip that came with your chips lives on in your memory. The freebies matter more than you think.

The same is true in relationships. We place a lot of importance on big moments and events—birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, etc. By showing up in these moments, by buying the perfect gift, by checking all the boxes, you think you’re doing your part for your friends and family members.

But while those big moments certainly matter, there’s something to be said for the smaller moments: texting your friend that you’re thinking about her on a random Tuesday, buying your coworker lunch for no reason at all, hugging your child extra tight just because. It is the accumulation of these relational “freebies” that communicates consistent, sincere love most effectively.

Jesus did both throughout his ministry—he gave his life on the cross for us all, but he also gave his time to a Samaritan woman at a well. In ways that were sometimes small and sometimes cinematic, on the most extraordinary occasions and the most ordinary, Jesus gave himself fully to people. As his disciple, may you show that same kind of love: gracious, sacrificial, and free.