Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
The Giver's Guarantee
Giving precedes getting or in other words, giving comes before getting. We all want what we are unwilling to give. Do you want respect? Then you must give it. Do you want love? Then you must give love. Our culture concentrates on getting: getting jobs, money, power, fame, honors, lovers, friends, etc. The real question is: What is there to get if no one gives?
Could this be why the pursuit of happiness for some is just that - a pursuit? (to pursue means to chase after) One big chase after an illusion? We must give to receive. The Lord tells us that we should give good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over if this is what we hope to receive back. We should give generously of all that we receive - not like those 1/4 filled bag of chips that promise a lot of chips but deliver a skimpy handful.
We're told that good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put IN us. This goes along with the Lord's promise in John 7:38, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." The reference to "living water" symbolizes the Spirit. We know the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All these qualities are meant to be radiated or directed to others. They are meant to flow out from us in good quantities - RIVERS!
The Lord also tells us an eternal law here. With the same measure we use, it will be measured back to us. If we use a skimpy measure to give out, we will receive a skimpy measure in return. If we use a great, full measure to give out we will receive the same back! God gives to us so we can give to others and if we're not "getting" we're probably not giving or giving with a skimpy measure.
We are not givers by nature - we are hoarders. Our nature fears giving will somehow lessen our reserves and we will have lack. Like the children of Israel who gathered manna and tried to "leave part of it until morning" (Ex. 16:20) we find that what we hoard "breeds worms and stinks". In other words, it becomes useless and it rots. Our flesh will never love to give and that is why we are to reckon it dead. We give on faith. Faith is dependence on the Lord to do as He has promised. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Cor. 9:8
Thought for Today:
Lord, I thank You for supplying me with all I need to give. Enable me to give a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. Open my heart to receive Your rivers and to let them flow freely out again.