The repayment of kindness with kindness does not refer to a one - time gift or favor ; rather it involves mutual exhortation so that both parties grow in virtue and reap boundless blessings in the future 以德报德,并非报之以一时的财物和便利,而是互勉互励,双方德业自然日日增上,自然后福无穷,所以说报恩长。