Love Without Leverage
“But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.” - Luke 6:35a (CSB)
Jesus does not soften His command. He intensifies it.
This is where most of us instinctively push back. Loving those who love us feels reasonable. Loving those who irritate us feels difficult. Loving enemies feels unrealistic. But Jesus is not speaking hypothetically. He is defining kingdom life.
The word “enemy” in this passage does not only mean someone physically attacking you. It includes those who oppose you, undermine you, criticize you, ignore you, or treat you unjustly. It includes people who cost you something emotionally.
And Jesus says love them.
Leverage-based love says, “I will move toward you if you move toward me.” Gospel love says, “I move toward you because God moved toward me.”
When you love without leverage, you release control. You stop trying to secure outcomes. You stop keeping score. You stop demanding emotional repayment. You act because obedience matters more than reaction.
This is terrifying for the flesh.
We like control. We like validation. We like symmetry. Loving without leverage feels like losing ground. But in reality, it is walking in freedom. When you expect nothing in return, you are no longer controlled by someone else’s response.
Love becomes obedience to God, not negotiation with people.
And this does not mean you enable sin or remove healthy boundaries. Loving without leverage does not mean abandoning wisdom. It means your kindness is not dependent on someone earning it.
This kind of love is costly. But so was the cross.
Jesus loved people who would not love Him back. He moved toward those who would abandon Him. He gave Himself for those who would not repay Him. That is not weakness. That is divine strength.
And now He calls you to reflect it.
Reflection Question
Where are you still waiting for someone to move first before you obey Christ in love?
Leverage protects your pride. Love releases control.
Prayer
Father, I see how deeply I want repayment, recognition, and response. Teach me to love without leverage. Free me from needing others to validate my obedience. Help me move toward people because You first moved toward me. Shape my heart to reflect Yours. Amen.
Jesus does not soften His command. He intensifies it.
- Love your enemies.
- Do good.
- Lend.
- Expect nothing in return.
This is where most of us instinctively push back. Loving those who love us feels reasonable. Loving those who irritate us feels difficult. Loving enemies feels unrealistic. But Jesus is not speaking hypothetically. He is defining kingdom life.
The word “enemy” in this passage does not only mean someone physically attacking you. It includes those who oppose you, undermine you, criticize you, ignore you, or treat you unjustly. It includes people who cost you something emotionally.
And Jesus says love them.
- Not because they deserve it.
- Not because they will respond well.
- Not because it will fix them.
Leverage-based love says, “I will move toward you if you move toward me.” Gospel love says, “I move toward you because God moved toward me.”
When you love without leverage, you release control. You stop trying to secure outcomes. You stop keeping score. You stop demanding emotional repayment. You act because obedience matters more than reaction.
This is terrifying for the flesh.
We like control. We like validation. We like symmetry. Loving without leverage feels like losing ground. But in reality, it is walking in freedom. When you expect nothing in return, you are no longer controlled by someone else’s response.
Love becomes obedience to God, not negotiation with people.
And this does not mean you enable sin or remove healthy boundaries. Loving without leverage does not mean abandoning wisdom. It means your kindness is not dependent on someone earning it.
This kind of love is costly. But so was the cross.
Jesus loved people who would not love Him back. He moved toward those who would abandon Him. He gave Himself for those who would not repay Him. That is not weakness. That is divine strength.
And now He calls you to reflect it.
Reflection Question
Where are you still waiting for someone to move first before you obey Christ in love?
Leverage protects your pride. Love releases control.
Prayer
Father, I see how deeply I want repayment, recognition, and response. Teach me to love without leverage. Free me from needing others to validate my obedience. Help me move toward people because You first moved toward me. Shape my heart to reflect Yours. Amen.
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