Giving

It was a very long time ago that I learned the basic math facts in school. If I have two hymnals, and I can find people to give me two more hymnals, how many hymnals will I have? Four. I came out ahead. And now that I have four hymnals, if I give one away, how many will I have? Only 3. I’ve lost out. I’ve gone down. And I don’t want to lose, so now I’m going to guard my hymnal stash. Stay back! It’s basic math. If you add, then you gain. If you subtract, then you lose.

This morning we’ll continue in Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. In it, Jesus gives his disciples some new math, something that seems crazy at first. But it’s one of the foundational principals of the kingdom of God. If you give, you will receive more in return. Our text for this morning is, again, Luke 6:37-42. I invite you to open your Bibles so you can see it for yourself. It is on page 65 of the New Testament section of your pew Bible.

"37 `Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.'

39 He also told them a parable: `Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, `Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.'"

Today I want us to look at just one verse, verse 38. “give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.'”

In the kingdom of God, what happens if we give something away? We get it back.

And what you get back isn’t just an equal amount. I think Jesus has in mind giving grain to someone who lacks food. And what you get back is a full measure. It’s been shaken down and the measuring cup is overflowing.

Did you ever open up a cereal box and discover that the contents had settled until it looked like the box was half empty? Here’s one of our favorite cereals. I measured it. The box is 11” high. But the bag inside is only filled to 8 ½”. (And I’ll assume that the weight is just what they said it was). When we give, God doesn’t pay us back like that. He pushes it down, shakes it to settle it, then he fills it up again and makes sure it is overflowing. Keep God’s generosity in mind whenever you start to feel afraid to let something go and give it to God. Nobody is going to out-give God! He promises you will receive more in return.

So, how does this work. Let’s ask some questions about what this all means. Who should give? Jesus is giving a very foundational teaching to people who want to be his disciples. It is our calling to be generous people. If you want to be like Jesus, understand that he was the givingest person of all time. He gave healing. He gave food. He gave hope. He emptied himself and became a servant. He gave his life for our sin. Disciples of Jesus Christ are called to have giving, generous hearts. The “who” of giving is us.

What should disciples give? We usually think about money, our offerings to the church.

We share through bringing our offerings to church and they make it possible for many good things to happen. We share food by bringing in non-perishables for our food pantry. And that gets used and it has really made a difference for some families.

This church has a ministry that most of you never see through the Matthei Fund, that’s not part of the general budget. From time to time people come to our church as a desperate last stop. And the Matthei Fund allows me to help them through the crisis. Maybe the car broke down and it took every cent they had to get it repaired so they could keep working. But now the gas tank is empty and payday doesn’t come for 3 more days. Well, I can take them over and give a tank of gas. Maybe they just can’t make the rent and we can put them over the top. Maybe they can’t afford medicine and we can make it possible. And the fund is usually low, it depends on donations. But that’s an important ministry of this church that you don’t get to see. And there are other agencies that can give cash assistance. But here I can listen to people’s struggles and care and pray with them and give in the name of Jesus. That’s a way that this congregation gives that most of you don’t get to see.