Quid Pro Quo - giving something in exchange of getting something.
In the realm of business, this term is often used in a negative sense to mean someone got a raise or promotion based upon giving something as a bribe to the supervisor. In John Maxwell’s book, “Developing the Leader Within You,” he says that at a basic level people continue to do things because there is this exchange of meaning to what they do. People do things because it adds value. So he continues to say this 1) People evaluate relationships by comparing what they give to a relationship with what they get from it. 2) When what people give does not equal what they get, they feel distress. 3) People who feel distress because they give more than they get will restore equity (by giving up some of the things they give.) This is again an obvious negative result. Relationships can split, jobs can be lost, volunteers quit, hope can be lost. I think this mind set is real and is everywhere, but it should not be something that we must continue to follow.
For example, when we talk about Family Ministries, quid pro quo is seen. Some marriages used quid pro quo this past Valentine’s day, the only real reason my wife and I believe the holiday exists in today’s world!…come on, you know what I’m talking about and you can’t deny it.
We’re using it when it comes to fund raising for our volunteers to go to Orange. We provide a Parent Night Out in exchange for donations. (Prayerfully this may continue as an outreach to our community beyond the scope of this fund raiser where there is no Quid Pro Quo, but just for the love of God and people.)
Quid Pro Quo is often also used when it comes to how we discipline our children…”you can have this if you do this.”
Is this the best way to have a marriage or to lead our children in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ? Is this the best reason to volunteer or join a small group or come to Church? I mean did Jesus use Quid Pro Quo when it came to His death, burial, and resurrection? Did God’s use of Quid Pro Quo with the Jews produce more authentic devotees to God?
I think when we take a close look at our lives and find the areas where we have been responding to a Quid Pro Quo status and begin to change our responses and attitudes and actions to those of love and sincere selfless care we will see God as he longs for us to see how things are to be.
pastormarty
jeffsdeepthoughts
billydotcom
steveblumer
jeffsdeepthoughts said,
February 15, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Maybe that’s at the very root of the definition of grace, and unconditional love. The idea that things are given without benefit to the giver.
To make that jump, from “this for that” to “I’ll give this for nothing at all” is enomorous. I know that I personally am not ready for it in many areas, and I don’t think many people are. Maybe the thing to shoot for is being more noble in what we expect as a return on our investments.
There’s this whole spectrum:
At one end is a person who is primitive, rude, and not very spiritual. He says “I’m only going to watch your kids during church if you give me a dollar.”
Slightly better, closer to the middle of the spectrum: “I’ll watch your kids first service if you watch mine second service.”
Even better than that: “I like it when the worship service is not distracting. I’ll give up one Sunday a month of my time to watch kids if others will step up too.”
At the further end of the spectrum is someone who’s benefits are so abstract and indirect that it starts to look like they are not really benefitting at all. Somebody might serve in a children’s ministry because they know that God wants his children to hear his love: this love can most efficiently be expressed in different settings based on age.
Or perhaps somebody served because they feel called to work with kids, and they benefit because they feel good doing the things God placed in their hearts.
Is there a point that we just do things like serve out of sheer obedience? That we become so obedient that we just do it because we’re supposed to do it? I think that’s a great question.
(Interesting how the best questions are so hard to answer.)
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June 20, 2008 at 3:09 pm
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