For the Joy Set Before Him

"No one does anything without expecting a return for what they've done." My first response to this idea is to push back and say there's no way it's true. Like my friend who had a conversation about this idea with his fiancé. But then my friend really thought about it and realized he doesn't think he does anything without some thought of, "Well I'll be rewarded for this, whether in this world or the next." He looked defeated as he said this. I think his defeat comes from an assumption that may not be true. Did Jesus do things without any thought for himself? At first I thought, "Of course." Then I thought of the verse, "...For the joy set before him he [Jesus] endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2) What was 'the joy set before him'? You. Me. Jesus had EVERYTHING, everything. Perfect and complete relationship in the Trinity. The only thing he lacked was you and me. Jesus endured the cross so he could have you. He didn't do it with no thought of himself, or for no return. He knew what his return would be. That's why he died in our place. So here's the assumption: It is wrong or ungodly to act expecting return. But in reality Jesus did everything expecting return. His motives were pure and his actions perfect, and he did what he did to get you. Our motives aren't pure and our actions aren't perfect, but expecting something back, some joy, for the godly things we do is not ungodly. In fact it is fellowship with God because He has also worked for a reward. This is not to be confused with keeping score. God doesn't keep score and He doesn't call us to. This is simply to say that when you do something good, or honorable, or kind and you feel the benefit of it or enjoy what you get from it that is not wrong. In fact it is God-like.