Go! And Give as God Gave to You - Luke 6:38
INTRODUCTION — “THE MEASURE OF YOUR HEART”
Church, if I were to ask you this morning: What is the clearest evidence of a transformed heart?
Some might say holiness. Others might say prayer. Others might say love.
But Jesus says something surprising.
He says the clearest evidence of a changed heart is generosity.
Because generosity is not merely about money—it is about the measure of your heart.
Jesus’ words in Luke 6:38 (NLT) confront us, challenge us, and call us higher.
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.
The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
These words are not a fundraising slogan. They are not a prosperity-gospel trick.
They are the very heartbeat of the King of kings.
Today’s message in our “Go! And…” series is titled:
“Go! And… Live Generously Because God Has Been Generous to You!”
I. WHAT DID JESUS ACTUALLY MEAN?
Luke 6 is part of what many call the Sermon on the Plain—parallel to the well-known Sermon on the Mount.
The context?
Jesus is explaining what a kingdom disciple looks like.
Not like the world. Not like the Pharisees. Not even like the merely religious.
But like Jesus Himself.
The Key Word: “Give” – Greek: didomi (d?d?µ?)
Didomi means more than handing over possessions.
It means:
to yield
to release
to entrust
to extend grace
Giving in this sense is not transactional—it is transformational.
“Pressed down, shaken together…” – First-century imagery
In the ancient marketplace, when grain was purchased, a generous seller would:
press it down to remove air pockets,
shake the container to fill every gap,
and heap it until it overflowed.
Jesus is saying: God gives to His children with shocking generosity—overflowing, abundant, undeserved.
This is not “give to get.”
This is give because God has given, and trust Him with the harvest.
II. SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES THAT UNPACK KINGDOM GENEROSITY
2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NLT): “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. And God will generously provide all you need…”
Greek: eulogia — “generous blessing”
Paul uses eulogia to describe generosity as spreading blessings.
The Corinthian church was wealthy but reluctant to give.
Paul teaches that giving is never loss—it is sowing.
You cannot out-give God.
You cannot bankrupt heaven.
You cannot be more generous than the One who gave His Son for you.
John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
Piper reminds us that generosity flows from satisfaction in Christ, not pressure from others.
When Jesus is your treasure, giving is your joy—not your duty.
Proverbs 11:24–25 (NLT): “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Hebrew: berakah — “blessing” or “life-giving favour”
Generosity releases berakah—God’s favour poured out.
In a world that clings desperately, Christians live open-handedly.
You cannot refresh others without God refreshing you.
Max Lucado: “God does not give us money to hoard but to share.”
Lucado captures the heart of discipleship.
God blesses us not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.
Acts 20:35 (NLT): “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Jesus
Paul is speaking to the Ephesian elders, reminding them of the example of Christ Himself.
Greek: makarios — “deep, soul-level joy from God”
Generosity is not about earthly happiness but makarios joy—kingdom joy.
Generosity shifts the soul into alignment with heaven.
When you give, you reflect the nature of God Himself.
Charles Stanley: “We are never more like Christ than when we give.”
Stanley is right—giving is not merely Christian behaviour; it is Christlike behaviour.
III. TWO ILLUSTRATIONS THAT REVEAL THE HEART OF GENEROSITY
The Widow of George Müller
George Müller, who cared for thousands of orphans, once received a donation from a widow: two coins.
When asked why she gave so sacrificially, she replied:
“Because God has never failed me—not once.”
She knew the principle of Luke 6:38.
We do not give from surplus—we give from faith.
The Two Seas of Israel
Israel has two major seas:
The Sea of Galilee — full of life, fish, and freshness.
The Dead Sea — dead, stagnant, lifeless.
What is the difference?
The Sea of Galilee receives water and gives it out.
The Dead Sea only receives.
Life flows where giving flows.
Death stagnates where generosity stops.
IV. GENEROSITY AND THE GOSPEL — WHY THIS MATTERS FOR ETERNITY
Generosity is not fundamentally about finances.
It is about the Gospel of grace.
Because God is the most generous Giver of all.
John 3:16 (NLT): “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son…”
He gave the greatest gift heaven could offer:
Jesus Christ—crucified, buried, risen again—so sinners like us can be saved.
The Cross Is the Ultimate Overflowing Measure
At the Cross God gave:
forgiveness pressed down,
mercy shaken together,
grace running over,
salvation poured into our lap.
If God did not withhold His Son, why would we ever withhold anything from Him?
V. CALL TO ACTION — “MEASURE OUT WHAT GOD HAS MEASURED TO YOU”
Church, we are called to:
1. Give generously.
Not reluctantly. Not fearfully. Not calculatingly.
2. Give joyfully.
Because giving reflects the character of Christ.
3. Give intentionally.
Time, love, forgiveness, finances, compassion.
4. Give sacrificially.
Because our Saviour gave sacrificially for us.
5. Give obediently.
Not because it benefits us, but because it glorifies Him.
VI. INVITATION TO SALVATION — “THE GREATEST GIFT IS CHRIST HIMSELF”
Perhaps today you realise your life has been more like the Dead Sea—receiving but never giving.
Perhaps generosity is not flowing because Christ is not your Lord.
Hear the Gospel today:
Jesus Christ died for your sins.
He was buried in your place.
He rose again in victory over sin, death, and hell.
He offers forgiveness, new life, and eternal salvation.
But you must repent.
Turn from sin.
Trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
If you want the generous grace of God—overflowing, abundant, eternal—
come to Christ today.
BENEDICTION / EXHORTATION:
May the Lord fill your hands with blessing,
your heart with generosity,
your life with Christlike giving,
and your future with heavenly reward.
Go into this week with open hands and an open heart.
Go! And live generously because God has been generous to you.
Amen.
