Receiving Through Giving

Luke 6:38 says, "Give and it shall be given you." Most people try to have by hoarding, but God says the way to have more is through giving. Blessed is that person who has learned the lesson that God honors those who give. There was a Christian man who recently sat in front of me at a meeting. He knew I was a long way from home, so he turned and said to me just before the service was over on the last night, " I know you have a great distance to drive. Here is $20.00 to help you with you gas money going back home." That man had learned the lesson that you get through giving. We are to be a "cheerful" giver (2 Cor.9:7).Let me share with you what God shared with me from this text in Luke 6:38, trusting it will bless you as it did me.

I. A Command Is Involved- "Give". That word "give" is an interesting word.

First, it speaks of a command. It is in the imperative mode, which means in the Greek New Testament that it is a must.

Secondly, it speaks of a continuance. It is present tense, which suggests that generosity is to be a way of life for the believer.

II. A Compensation Is Involved- "It shall be given unto you." God is able to give back more than you are able to give out. If I were to restate what Jesus said it would be in these words, "Give and I will see to it that others will give unto you."

First, there is compensation in the material (Matt.6:30).

Also, there is compensation in the spiritual. When we do what God tells us to do there is peace and joy (Phil.4:9).

III. A Company Is Involved- "Men shall give." God repays you for generosity from quite a variety of sources. The Lord can move the hearts of many other people to help us meet the needs that we face in daily life. God has influence in many lives through the Holy Spirit and many times supplies our everyday needs through others.

IV. A Concentration Is Involved-"Pressed down, shaken together, running over shall men give into your bosom." The figurative language is borrowed from the market where the salesman, grateful for past kindnesses, endeavors, by pressing, shaking, and piling up, to put more grain into the measure for us than it will contain. Our God is One of abundance of blessing for His own. He is the God of the extras.

V. A Claim Is Involved- What is that claim? How we measure out will determine what kind of measurement of giving will come back.

THIS MINI SERMON IS FOR PERSONAL AND PULPIT USE ONLY. ANY REPRODUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL, INTENDED FOR PRINTED DISTRIBUTION, MUST BE APPROVED BY DR.TOM WALKER, AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF THE PREACHER'S CORNER.