A TRUE GIVER

Luke 6:38, starts off with the first two words - "Give and...".  For my teaching purposes today I want to stop right there and really emphasize what many miss to begin with - "Give".

This word in the original Greek is the word Didomi, meaning to commit or minister.  Committing and ministering involves the prolonging of giving.  This calls for a serious, considerate, and moved heart/mind. To change from a mainly receiving mode of operation to now a giving mode of operation is going to take acceptance of a certain mind-set, lifestyle and spiritual law.

It is a mind-set in that we first have to acknowledge this kind of giving is needed. Then we acknowledge our own need to operate in this manner.  Then we should purpose to change and watch for opportunities to give with longevity.

The lifestyle of giving is not just a dedication to a charity for life.  The lifestyle is not just years of service in a choir.  These are valid displays of a giving life, but the lifestyle needs to incorporate giving into all aspects of our lives.  Time, energy, money - whatever we can give that is needed or feel lead to give is promised to return to us.

The spiritual law of Sowing and Reaping is the promise in the next part of this verse - "and it will be given to you."  However, Jesus goes four steps further. He continues, "A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."

  • So, step one "a good measure" is measured out.  
  • Step two, is "pressed down" and step three "shaken together" to make room for more.  
  • Step four, is "running over" - what you have given will come back as if it were being spilled all over your lap. 
Paul confirms this when he writes his second letter to the church in Corinth -

  • Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 

The last part of this verse is just as important as making your mind up to give in the first place.  "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  Said another way, For with the degree or portion of the kind of giving you use, that is what will be used to measure out what is coming to you.  What kind of giver are you?  My God is a just God.  If you sow a committed lifestyle of hate, bitterness, jealousy, pride, and so forth, then not only will you reap this, but you will receive "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, ... poured into your lap" of that negative lifestyle.

A True Giver accepts and operates in the cycle of the giver.  First, God calls us to start being committed to a giving lifestyle. Then we enter into a giving lifestyle and notice invaluable blessings returning.  Lastly, we thank God and He sends more opportunities for us to give.  Paul says it like this in 2 Corinthians 9:11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

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 with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

Once again, what kind of giver are you?  A temporary, every now and then giver or a giver where the blesser is the blessed because he/she is A True Giver.


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