“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.” - Jesus Luke 6:38
There are some fascinating commentaries on these words of Jesus. One Hebrew use of the word “lap” refers to the fold of a garment. Picture a farmer with a large apron-like fold in his robe, used for carrying seed. The more widely he spread the seed, the greater was his harvest. He was rewarded with good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. A fixed life principle is that we reap what we sow. Jesus taught that both materially and spiritually, our actions will be returned to us measure for measure.
Another picture is that of the worker in the farmer’s field. The bottom part of his robe was pulled up and tied around the waist to free his legs for working. When it was time to be paid, he held out this fold of his robe, which formed a large pocket. It would be filled to overflowing, shaken and pressed down, and filled again until it was full and running over. The rich bounty meant the worker and his family had abundant provision from the harvest.
There’s a story about Louis Mayer, the founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studios. As a boy he lost a fist fight. While his mom was bathing his black eye, he told her the fight was entirely the other boy’s fault. His mom said nothing, but after attending to his eye, she took Louis to the back yard of their home. There were hills nearby that created a great echo. She told him to yell loud and call the hills all the bad names he could think of. He did so, and all those bad names echoed right back at him. “Now, call out ‘God bless you’!” she said. He did so and those words echoed back to him, “God bless you!” Louis Mayer never forgot the lesson: how you treat others will come right back to you.
When Jesus said “give,” He wasn’t referring to just monetary gifts. He instructs us to lavishly expend our spiritual gifts of hospitality, serving, mercy, kindness, shepherding, forgiveness, and all the rest in His name. As we spread His kingdom right here where He has placed us, measure for measure, what we have sent out into the world will be returned to us. And His love…well, that is measureless!
PRAYER: Lord, Your measure was the cross! In Gethsemane You said “yes” instead of “no.” Your love is rich and pure, it’s measureless and strong. Help me increase the measure with which I share Your love to bless someone today. Amen.