Thursday, January 19, 2017

January 19, 2017

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

When you hear this verse what do you think it is asking you to give?

Probably money, right?

That's how it is usually presented when pastors preach on it. But let's look at it in context with the previous verse:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37-38

Maybe it's not just about money.

How about even more context.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:27-38

Hmmmmm.......doesn't really talk about money at all does it? It talks about having a generous heart and a giving spirit. 

Would money be included in that? Sure it would but that is not the primary point of this teaching.

Let's look at a parallel passage and see what we can learn.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2


Again, nothing is said about money is there?

You may recognize these passages as from the Sermon on the Mount. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is describing what the Kingdom of God is like and what people are like who live in that kingdom.

The Kingdom of God exists in the hearts and minds of God's people. It is about how they live and how they think. Through His people God seeks to connect the limitless resources of Heaven with the seemingly limitless needs on earth. Therefore, God's people are to give according to the needs of others not according to their own resources understanding they are channels or conduits through whom God gives. 

Think about it. God can only be as generous as your generosity permits Him to be!

"With the measure you use it will measured to you."

You give generously so God will generously give through you!