Luke 6:38 (NIV)
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 says that giving results in more giving.
More precisely, he says that giving results in receiving.
Others have noticed this phenomenon too.
The Beatles wrote about it in their song, "The End." John Lennon said, "Paul had a line in it, 'And in the end, the love you get is equal to the love you give,' which is a very cosmic, philosophical line."
Not just cosmic and philosophical...Christian, it turns out, too.
At least according to what Jesus had to say in today's scripture.
Now, there are preachers out there who will tell you that you should give to their church or ministry because if you do, God will bless you and you'll get rich. I don't think that's right at all.
But I do think that it's an undeniable fact of the universe, that giving begets more giving.
Or more precisely, that giving does impact receiving.
I'll never forget "Pauline." She was the first terminally ill person whom I'd ever served as pastor. I was 23 years old, and the thought of death scared me to death. But it didn't scare Pauline. In fact, she was at peace, and probably did far more to counsel me through the situation than I ever did for her. I watched as the people around her...family, friends, church members...circled around her in care. I learned that this was what Pauline had faithfully done for others throughout her life.
And in the end, it came back to her many times over.
There was a full house of family and loved ones at her funeral. She touched a lot of people with her love.
"Give," Jesus says... "And a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall be poured out into your lap."
May God use us to start this cause-and-effect cycle of giving and receiving his blessings.
Prayer: Show us how "generosity begets generosity" in our own lives. May we give to other people just as we would like to receive: with kindness, goodness, and grace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 8:32 (No blog)
Worship at SOTH this Sunday --- we'll be talking about the 6th spiritual discipline that God uses in moving us into deeper relationship with him: Serving others. Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.
More precisely, he says that giving results in receiving.
Others have noticed this phenomenon too.
The Beatles wrote about it in their song, "The End." John Lennon said, "Paul had a line in it, 'And in the end, the love you get is equal to the love you give,' which is a very cosmic, philosophical line."
Not just cosmic and philosophical...Christian, it turns out, too.
At least according to what Jesus had to say in today's scripture.
Now, there are preachers out there who will tell you that you should give to their church or ministry because if you do, God will bless you and you'll get rich. I don't think that's right at all.
But I do think that it's an undeniable fact of the universe, that giving begets more giving.
Or more precisely, that giving does impact receiving.
I'll never forget "Pauline." She was the first terminally ill person whom I'd ever served as pastor. I was 23 years old, and the thought of death scared me to death. But it didn't scare Pauline. In fact, she was at peace, and probably did far more to counsel me through the situation than I ever did for her. I watched as the people around her...family, friends, church members...circled around her in care. I learned that this was what Pauline had faithfully done for others throughout her life.
And in the end, it came back to her many times over.
There was a full house of family and loved ones at her funeral. She touched a lot of people with her love.
"Give," Jesus says... "And a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall be poured out into your lap."
May God use us to start this cause-and-effect cycle of giving and receiving his blessings.
Prayer: Show us how "generosity begets generosity" in our own lives. May we give to other people just as we would like to receive: with kindness, goodness, and grace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 8:32 (No blog)
Worship at SOTH this Sunday --- we'll be talking about the 6th spiritual discipline that God uses in moving us into deeper relationship with him: Serving others. Worship at 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for all ages at 10:15.
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