Bible Reading: Exodus 3; Job 20; Luke 6; 1 Corinthians 7
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Too bad these words of Jesus have been so misused and abused by money-hungry preachers! If you jerk this verse out of its context you can make it say that if you give money, you will get money. However, let's hear the whole conversation of Jesus.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
As followers of Christ, we are to love even our enemies and hold all material possessions loosely. We are told here to lend hoping for nothing again! Do you give hoping for the return? Notice that we are to expect a reward, but when and where? When we live this way, we prove our relationship to our loving Heavenly Father. He is kind even to the unthankful and to the evil! God gives to those who do not deserve and are not grateful for what they receive.
Luke 6:36-37 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
We are to imitate our Father in heaven who is merciful and forgiving. The point of Jesus' statement is that we will be measured with the same measure we use. Have you ever opened a bag of potato chips and been disappointed that the bag is only half-full. The bag size is deceiving because it is half-full of air. Now take a bushel basket to the market to buy grain. Jesus says if you measure to others with kindness, generosity, mercy, grace and forgiveness that you will receive the same. You will receive a good measure. They will press the grain down and shake the basket to make more room then pour in some more. When you get home the grain will not have settled so that your basket is only half-full. If you use a generous measure, you will receive a generous measure.
How do you treat others? Are you harsh and condemning? You will receive the same measure you use. Are you merciful and liberal? If you are you are reflecting the image of our merciful God!
What a wonderful promise! Let's treat others as God has treated us! Then we can look forward to eternal reward.
In Christ,
Rody
