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 NIV
With regard to giving and receiving the stress for Jesus is the last part of the verse. What exactly did Jesus mean by the “measure you use”? Some like Jimbob thought it was the amount of things of giving away. If he gave some, then God was somehow on the hook to return a lot more back to Jimbob. Have you ever felt like this? “Lord I sacrificed, can’t you help me out by giving back?”
It is true that measure is quantity terminology. But what is being measured is the key. I believe that the answer is generosity of spirit. Jesus may have been thinking about Deuteronomy 15: 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Paul captured the idea as he writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Most of the battle in giving is getting your attitude right in your heart by answering the question “why?”. Jesus said don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give when you are impressed by the Holy Spirit to give.
What if I give to someone and they misuse the money? Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is speaking to and over the hearts of the one you are giving to. You are not to try and control how the gift is to be used. Trust that God is using your giving to provide seed for another.
Keep and open hand policy with God. He can place a little or as much as he desires for you to manage life. He can also take some to give to others. The open hand can be entrusted with a little and entrusted with much. A closed fist holding on to the money can only hold so much.
May God bless you with a cheerful generous heart to give. You will look and sound like your Father in heaven.
Blessings Love y’all