The Measure You Use

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)


I grew up in church hearing this verse. It's a Christian favorite. Give and it will be given to you. Sounds pretty awesome!

This verse has been said to me over and over and I've quoted it myself. I've used it when I have given my time, money, or resources to help others; quoting it... thinking about how I would be given back for giving. Now, that's not WHY I give, but it's a definite perk and I have seen this "promise" fulfilled over and over again!

But today, as I was reading my Bible... I came across the verse before it (37), which is also familiar to me and ANOTHER favorite in the Christian world: Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

"Cool, Megan. Where are you going with this?" Hang with me here.

So, I'm reading these verses together and I realize. "I have been looking at Luke 6:38 from only one point of view!"

I've been looking at it as a promise for good things returned to me... and the Holy Spirit showed me that it works the other way too. The verse in no way says "Give good things and it will be given back to you..." ...it just says GIVE.

So if you GIVE anger, impatience, stinginess, selfishness, bitterness or deception... will it not be returned to you? A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over...poured back on you into your lap?

I don't know about you..... but a good measure of selfishness (or any of the things I've listed) that's been packed down and is flowing over my "cup"... set back into my lap... just doesn't sound wonderful.

If you give judgement or condemnation, will they not be returned to you when you make a mistake? With the measure that you used?

Whatever you give, good or bad... will be given back to you. So choose carefully what you give.

What are you giving to your spouse, to your kids, or to your friends? Are you frustrated with any of these relationships? If so, I encourage you to do a hard examination of what you are giving to them.

Ask God to open your eyes to see the things that you need to see and to give you the strength to start giving good things to the people that you have influence with in your life.

LOVE

I wish people saw each other like Jesus sees them. God created humans with many different races, backgrounds, and personalities! It's part of what makes humans beautiful! We are each unique and created in His image. ALL of us. If each one of us could grasp just a glimpse of how wide, how deep and how vast the Father's love is for His creation..... The world would change dramatically. Why do we have to be violent towards each other with our words and our actions? What are we trying to prove?

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

Therefore, God's very character is this:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Cor. 13:4-7

What if we were to strive to BE LOVE? We can't achieve perfection, but we can do better than we are doing now...