"Giving to get is greedy—true giving expects nothing in return."
How it sounds in your head: You've seen the prosperity gospel manipulators. You're not going to be one of those people who treats God like a slot machine. Real Christianity is about sacrifice and surrender, not expecting return on investment. Expecting blessing from giving is transactional and shallow.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
-- Luke 6:38Religion twisted the grace of expectant faith into greedy manipulation, creating false humility around receiving.
You've witnessed the excesses of prosperity teaching and don't want to be associated with that manipulation. Expecting nothing feels more pure, more sacrificial, more like Jesus who gave everything without demanding return.
Elijah EXPLICITLY told her 'make me a cake FIRST, and the jar will not run empty.' He promised supernatural return BEFORE she gave. She gave EXPECTING the promise, and it sustained her through three years of famine—expectant faith, not greedy manipulation.
I REFUSE the lie that expecting God's promises is greedy. IT IS WRITTEN that when I give, it will be given back to me—pressed down, shaken together, running over. Jesus promised supernatural return on honor, and I believe Him. My expectation isn't manipulation—it's FAITH that my Father keeps His word. IT IS WRITTEN that the BARAK blessing of Abraham makes me the lender and not the borrower, above and not beneath. I am not a beggar hoping for scraps; I am a SON expecting inheritance. My Father doesn't punish expectation—He REWARDS it.
Your Father isn't testing to see if you'll give without expecting anything—He's INVITING you to test HIM and see if He won't open heaven's windows. Like the father who prepared the fattened calf and had the robe and ring ready, your Father has been PREPARING your return before you even gave.