THE GENEROUS GIVER

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Lk. 6:38 NKJV)

Jesus requires us to give and what a wonderful requirement it is! There is great benefit in giving as we also will be the recipients of giving. Look at how Jesus described the gift:

• “good measure” indicates a proper proportion or quantity.
• “pressed down” and “shaken together” indicates that air has been sufficiently removed from the measuring container so as to only include what is being measured i.e., no wasted space!
• “running over” indicates that the gift is overflowing.
• All these statements show that the gift is liberal or generous.
• The giver’s bosom is a reference to a type of pocket or fold formed by a loose garment bound by a girdle or sash (cf. Ex. 4:6; Ps. 79:12; Pr. 6:27; Isa. 65:6-7).

The point? If I am liberal in giving, I can expect the same in return. On the contrary, if I am stingy, I can expect the same in return. This principle is stated well in 2 Cor. 9:6 as it relates to sowing, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6 NKJV). In the next verse it is connected with giving, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7 NKJV). When the seed is sown (given) into the ground bountifully (generously), then a bountiful harvest will be reaped. When the seed is sown (given) into the ground sparingly (stingily), then the harvest will be reaped sparingly.

In comparison to the seed God has given us, how are we doing in the sowing department? To state it another way, in comparison to the time, money, health, possessions, etc. God has given us, how are we doing in the giving department? “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself” (Pr. 11:25 NKJV). Let us give!

Trent Thrasher