A few days ago I was speaking to somebody who was angry at someone else who had not kept his commitments. As I was listening to him, I inwardly smiled and shook my head because the ‘‘plaintiff’’ himself was a bit of an expert as well in broken promises. This started an idea of this post; and when the following passage was read in church on Sunday, as the text for the offerings, it echoed in me rather differently.
Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."”
We almost all know this verse that is often used to motivate Christians to give their money generously. In fact, after having reminded the people that 2011 was the year of ‘‘more than enough’’, the preacher decided to show us the key to that abundance. He then read the verse above, insisting on the law of causality between the words (actions) : ‘Give’ and ‘Running over’.
While he was speaking, I could also see another direct relation between each one of our actions and what we reap from them. Let me explain:
Give anger, and it will be given to you, a good measure of anger, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give impatience, and it will be given to you, a good measure of impatience, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give stinginess, and it will be given to you, a good measure of stinginess, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give lies, and it will be given to you, a good measure of lies, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give treason, and it will be given to you, a good measure of treason, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give hatred, and it will be given to you, a good measure of hatred, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give theft, and it will be given to you, a good measure of stealing, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give cheating, and it will be given to you, a good measure of cheating, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give love, and it will be given to you, a good measure of love, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give compassion, and it will be given to you, a good measure of compassion, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give your time, and it will be given to you, a good measure of time, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give patience, and it will be given to you, a good measure of patience, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give joy, and it will be given to you, a good measure of joy, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Give peace, and it will be given to you, a good measure of peace, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
And so on…
It is true that God can test us and that the devil roams around and jumps at any opportunity to burden us. Nonetheless, when certain things happen, - people dupe us; nobody comes to assist when we are mourning or bedridden; others tend to be hostile to us; people are unfaithful to us etc. – before blaming the Lord or Satan for it, we’d better take a close look at the nature of the actions that we have been sowing and for which we might well be already bountifully reaping the fruits…
Enjoy your week, Good sowing and Excellent harvest!
Yes, I agree and accept all that is written, but what happens when like Job, you give, not expecting anything in return and you get rewarded disproportionately? i.e. dirrectly opposite to how you sowed?
ReplyDeleteI concluded saying that God can test us and the devil roams around to burden us. There are mainly 3 origins to our trials: God, the devil or ourselves.
ReplyDeleteGod tests us either to cleanse us, or to thrust us in a higher dimension. When a baby comes into this life, he has to leave the comfort of his mother's womb, to grab the chance of ever becoming a full grown man or woman. Yet, we often do not realise how traumatic this is for him.
Then the devil strikes, mainly to discourage us from continuing walking in faith and trusting God. But, this doesn't happen that often, except one constantly leaves a door open for him to enter. Satan has been so wrongly pointed at for so many things that he may even rightly be complaining to God as well.
I do believe that MOST of our tests and trials, are the result of our actions. They are like seeds that we sow, and that we reap in due time when they bear fruits. That's why, if something keeps on happening to you, check what you are doing first, then check if you have left a door opened, before accusing the devil for it.
Job's case is a good example of the devil's attacks and God allowing them, for a greater purpose.
Thanks for your comment,
God bless you!