The blessing of generosity.
In Luke 6 verse 38, Jesus teaches a principle that touches the very core of relationships and spiritual living.
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.
This verse is a call to generosity, with the promise that giving opens the door to blessings beyond imagination. The principle of giving. Jesus begins with an action. Give. This is the first step. Generosity isn't passive. It requires a conscious choice to share.
This act of giving applies to time, resources, kindness, forgiveness, and love. Imagine planting seeds in a garden. When you plant a single seed, it grows into a plant that produces many more seeds.
Giving works likewise. It multiplies, and returns in abundance. Consider a teacher who invests extra time in a struggling student. The teacher's effort and patience can transform the student's life, not just academically but in self-confidence.
The teacher's generosity creates a ripple effect of blessings. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Jesus uses imagery that connects to daily life in his time.
The reference here is to measuring grain. Merchants would fill a container, press it down, and run it over. This is a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, Shake it to settle the contents, and then pour in even more until it overflowed.
This represents abundance, completeness, and overflowing blessings. God's blessings, is like an overfilled box, exceed our expectations.
A bakery owner decides to donate surplus bread to a shelter daily. Over time, the bakery gains loyal customers, grows in reputation, and builds a sense of community. The giving leads to overflow in unexpected ways.
The reciprocity of generosity.
"For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you".
This highlights the law of sowing and reaping. The level of generosity we show determines the measure of blessings we receive.
If we give sparingly, we limit the return. If we give abundantly, blessings come back in abundance.
Think of generosity as using a measuring cup to scoop water from a fountain. If you use a small cup, you collect less. But if you use a bucket, you gather much more. The size of your measure reflects your openness to give and receive. A business owner consistently donates to community programs.
In return, the community supports the business, creating a cycle of mutual benefit.
Generosity is about more than material giving.
This verse is not just about money or possessions. It encompasses kindness, forgiveness, encouragement, and love. These intangible gifts often have the greatest impact.
Forgiveness is like removing a heavy backpack from someone struggling to walk uphill. It lightens their load and makes their journey easier. In turn, others may do the same for you when you're burdened.
A friend offers emotional support to someone during a tough time. Later, when the friend faces challenges, that person eagerly returns the kindness, creating a bond of mutual love.
This is the most important thing you can do. When we give, we might worry about losing what we have.
But Luke 6 verse 38 assures us that God's provision surpasses our expectations.
Trusting Him allows us to give freely, knowing He will supply all our needs. It's like lending a tool to a neighbor. You may fear not getting it back, but the neighbor returns it with a gift of gratitude,
proving your trust wasn't misplaced.
Luke 6 verse 38 is a powerful reminder that Genesis is the only way to give.
You can trust God to give blessings. It's not about material gain but about the joy, love, and growth that come from giving. By sharing our time, resources, and kindness, we reflect God's character and create a cycle of abundance that blesses both the giver and the receiver.
Let's embrace this principle, trusting that what we give will be returned, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Stay Blessed.
Posted Using INLEO