Earning the Gospel

I was listening to a guest speaker recently. He talked about how hard it is for us to accept the free grace of God. We, whether is as people or as Americans, don't want to accept something that is free. We have a desire, or a perceived need to "earn" everything we get.

Why is that? Why can't we accept free grace. Why, on a smaller scale, can't we accept a free gift?

I think that he was right, we need to work for it, to earn what we get. That free grace goes completely against our pride, our view of self worth. Given means that we can't claim credit. Free means we cannot admire our hard work. Unearned means charity and only the lowly get charity.

Well, we can't earn what we need. It is impossible to repay the debt. So...

Your choice.

As for me, I admit that I am a helpless charity case and I need free.