There are many passages in the Bible that I can say are my favorite, but actually it would be hard to pinpoint ONE verse and say that verse was my favorite over all the others. But one verse that is definitely at the top of my list is:
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 lap. For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again.
The Good Shepherd in this verse says so much. And money is not even mentioned at all. We have so many things to give beside our money - although it is important to give our money as well, both to our church and to those things we find worthy within the community. But there is so much more in this verse.
First, the Good Shepherd just says GIVE. By saying this word, He does NOT say some other things, like, first see how much is in the bank before you give. He does not say give only if you think you have enough food or whatever else on hand. He does not say give only if you have a great talent at something. He just says GIVE.
But immediately He tells us this: and it shall be given unto you. Whatever it is that you have decided to give, money, time, love, compassion, hand labor, visitation, food, whatever is, it will then be given unto you. And not even a "dollar for dollar" match, not even "whatever you gave, you will get THAT back." Instead, the Good Shepherd promises that we will receive back in "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and RUNNING OVER (my emphasis) shall MEN (my emphasis again) give unto your lap.
We can expect that if we give, whatever we give, in our faith and gratitude to the Lord, we will receive blessings ourselves, both from God and from men. If we have only a little food to share, share it. If we have only a little money to share, share that. But share it out of faith and out of cheerfulness and gratitude, knowing that you be blessed as well.
Then the Good Shepherd said, "For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again."
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 lap. For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again.
The Good Shepherd in this verse says so much. And money is not even mentioned at all. We have so many things to give beside our money - although it is important to give our money as well, both to our church and to those things we find worthy within the community. But there is so much more in this verse.
First, the Good Shepherd just says GIVE. By saying this word, He does NOT say some other things, like, first see how much is in the bank before you give. He does not say give only if you think you have enough food or whatever else on hand. He does not say give only if you have a great talent at something. He just says GIVE.
But immediately He tells us this: and it shall be given unto you. Whatever it is that you have decided to give, money, time, love, compassion, hand labor, visitation, food, whatever is, it will then be given unto you. And not even a "dollar for dollar" match, not even "whatever you gave, you will get THAT back." Instead, the Good Shepherd promises that we will receive back in "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and RUNNING OVER (my emphasis) shall MEN (my emphasis again) give unto your lap.
We can expect that if we give, whatever we give, in our faith and gratitude to the Lord, we will receive blessings ourselves, both from God and from men. If we have only a little food to share, share it. If we have only a little money to share, share that. But share it out of faith and out of cheerfulness and gratitude, knowing that you be blessed as well.
Then the Good Shepherd said, "For with the same measure that you measure it shall be measured to you again."
Do not fear to give, do not give with a grudging heart...for in the SAME MEASURE THAT YOU MEASURE it will be measured BACK to you. I believe that if you give freely and from the heart, whatever it is you are called to give, you will receive blessing in return both from men and from God, and God will not hold back.
In the time of Jesus, there were merchants who measured seed, flour, grain, or other commodities, and these merchants would sometimes use little tricks, in their greed, to save money and to cheat their customer. One particular method was to measure meal or flour and not press the meal or flour, leaving air gaps in the measure. A person might have paid for a given amount of flour, but when the package of flour was taken home and opened, the person found he had paid for as much air as he had flour.
The Lord will wants us to share our blessings with others, and He wants us to do so without fear, without greed, without selfishness. Instead He wants us to give out of our faith in Him. In so doing, we will receive from God and men that full measure in return, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.
Yes, this is one of my favorite verses of all. I hope it may be one of yours as well.
May God bless you, and may God Bless America
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