As we approach yet another new year, it is not uncommon for many to have one or more “new year’s resolutions.” Even if you are not one of those, the approach of a new year can be a good time to reflect and identify area(s) we would like to change or improve on in our Christian walk.
It is amazing to me how many beautiful word pictures God gives us in His Word to get His point across … and there is a great one in Luke chapter 6. For you ladies, visualize a whole bunch of measuring cups laid out, from a little bitty teaspoon all the way up to 1 cup, maybe even larger. For you guys, think about knives or guns or whatever comes to mind when thinking about smaller to larger being better.
As you are well aware from previous discussions, everything – yes, EVERYTHING – we have belongs to Him. And, He gives us the marvelous opportunity to participate in helping to build His kingdom, using the time, talents and financial resources He blesses us with. So, here’s the word picture in Luke 6:38 I’d like to encourage you to mediate on a bit. Jesus is speaking and says:
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.
Note that it says “give, and it WILL BE given to you.” When you give, He absolutely guarantees that you will be blessed in some way (not necessarily financially!) – that is just His way of doing things. It’s not that He needs your help or needs your money, but He knows us and how we seem to operate better when we can see results of our actions. So He says give and it will be given.
But then Jesus drills His point home: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” So, yes, we will be blessed when we give but … He leaves the amount of blessing in our hands. You give a little bit, He will bless a little bit. You give a lot, He will bless a lot. And remember what we learned from the poor widow’s offering. It is not the absolute amount you give, as obviously those who are wealthier can “afford” to give more. No, it’s all about how much you give out of how much you have; the comparison is not to others (horizontal) but to what He has given you (vertical). The poor widow was led to give everything she had even though it was very little compared to others. But Jesus looks at the heart,
So, as you look ahead to 2022, think about how He has blessed you. Listen a little more closely to His voice, His gentle leading. He has given all of us the opportunity to participate in building His Kingdom – how much a part of that do you want to have?