Luke 6:38
“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 the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
Give: Giving always connected with money, materials, and properties. There are some more things we can give to others such as, love, compassion, mercy, tender care, thanks, forgiveness, time and fellowship. We can invest our talents and knowledge on others. The knowledge grows when we share with others.
The basic meaning of give in English is offer something to someone without expecting any returns. “Dhana”, “Dharma”.
There are three kinds of giving mentioned in Old Testament. Each giving had the clear understanding of Rewards.
- Tithe is given as an act of Obedience, the reward is blessing (Mal.3:8, 11)
- First Fruits are given to show generosity the reward will be abundant life (Pr.3:9-10).
- Alms giving give satisfaction, sign of compassion and love (Mt.6:3-4 & Pr.19:17).
New Testament talks about immeasurable giving, free giving and sacrificial giving.
Mark Dillon in his book “Giving and getting in the KOG” classified four types of givers:
Reluctant givers (50% Christian) talking about giving is annoying to this group, their philosophy is ‘my money my business’
Casual Givers (25%): its obligation, how much is their question.
Thoughtful givers (20%): They are aware of God’s call on their life and possessions. They enjoy giving with increase and receive joy and pleasure.
Gifted givers (5%): Take great joy in giving. Their idea is how much should I keep. It’s Very different perspective.
I have seen in my 33 years of ministry. Givers are constant givers, rare givers, one-time givers, orient givers and never givers.
What you sow you will reap (Gal.6:7-10 & 2 Cor.9:6). Give proportionately according to your blessing (Dt. 16:17). Generous man shares food with poor (Pr.22:9). Spend for hungry, satisfy the needs of the oppressed (Is.58:10). Give without accounting (Mt.6:3). Freely give the gift of God. Don’t sell the prayer and its power (Mt.10:8). Contribute generously (12:8). Give not reluctantly or under compulsion (1 Cor.16:2). Don’t hard hearten and tight fisted in giving to the poor (Dt.15:7).
Blessings of Giving:
1. Generous man will prosper (Pr.11:25). Refresh others so that you will be refreshed. Prosperity is the reward of the righteous (Pr.13:21). Not giving leads to poverty (Pr.11:24), not giving to poor brings many curses (pr.28:27).
2. Ps.41:1 – blessed is he who has regard for the weak. Barns will be filled (Pr.3:10). Lord will richly reward you (Ru.1:12). 2 Sam.22:25- rewarded you according to the righteousness.
3. Abundant Life comes out of giving. Jesus gave up his spirit to the Father for eternal living. His sacrificial giving led him to earn numerous disciples and followers all around the world.
Conclusion: Let us give generously the love, show mercy and have compassion on others. All these qualities and blessings are like plants in our life. They grow as we practice on. The measure is with us, the blessings are with us. Either we can increase or hold on as it is.
(Rev. Andrew B Natarajan, 919443586008 revandrew@rediffmail.com)
