Queen’s University Belfast’s motto of “Pro tanto quid retribuamus?” (“what shall we give in
return for so much?”) is the same as that of the city of Belfast. This Latin motto is taken from a
translation of the words of Psalm 116 verse 12 : “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” . This motto can be interpreted as a reminder that with privilege come the responsibility to make the most of it, or as a call to gratitude for all that we have received. In the case of the writer of this Psalm, he recognised the goodness of God in his life and sought to offer something to God out of his gratitude.
It is said that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, meaning that if we are given something there is the expectation that something will be given in return. Often opportunities are presented and our reaction is that it is too good to be true, or that there must be some strings attached. Sadly, this is often the case and favours come with the expectation that they can be called in at a later date. People often treat the offers of the Bible with a degree of caution, and perhaps even suspicion, because they think that there must be some hidden clause or condition. However, the Bible does not talk about God doing us a favour, or mutually beneficial opportunities. Rather, it speaks in the language of gifts – God offers us something with no strings attached, at no cost to us. Christians believe that God is the source of all that we enjoy in life. In the book of James, found in the New Testament, we read that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17 NKJV).
The Bible teaches that although God has given us so much, the greatest thing that He has given us is the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It says in the book of Romans that God “did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NKJV). Through the Lord Jesus Christ, God offers us the gift of having our sins forgiven and having eternal life to enjoy in Heaven. This gift of salvation is
offered at no cost to us. God does not ask for our money or our efforts. All that is required of us to receive this gift is to “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
To go back to the motto we began with – what shall we give in return for so much? Well, the Gospel is a message which offers us so much and yet asks for nothing in return. This is the very nature of the message; grace, God’s unmerited favour.