Luke 6:38

38 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.

Over the past several months, I have been deeply encouraged to watch God at work in the lives of His people. As He teaches us, directs us, and grants wisdom, our lives begin to take on more and more of the beauty of Christs example. One of the clearest areas where this becomes visible is in the matter of stewardship. How we handle money and how we give and tithe is never merely a financial issue; it is a spiritual issue. In fact, our attitude toward money and the way we use it touches nearly every area of spiritual growth. Jesus says in Luke 6, “Give, and it will be given to you.” That is a great and gracious promise, but it is directly attached to our level of generosity for God’s House and it’s people. But it still raises a question: what exactly will be given to you? The answer is larger than material things. In a very real sense, the Lord gives back everything we truly need to live for Him. A good measure of grace, wisdom, strength, joy, contentment, and spiritual fruit will be given to those who give to Him with liberality. When we think of receiving from God, our minds often go first to earthly provision. And certainly God does provide for our needs in this life. But praise God, He has something far better in view than mere material return. He promises to give us what we need to live faithfully before Him. He frees us from the grip of greed. He loosens the hold of worldly possessions on our hearts. He teaches us to live openhanded before Him, and in doing so He gives us treasures that money could never buy.

Billy Graham once said, “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” That is true because money is often where trust, pride, fear, and worship all meet. When we hold earthly possessions loosely and give them freely to God, He breaks their power over us. He frees us from the tyranny of self-protection and self-importance. He teaches us to rely on Him rather than on what we can store up for ourselves. And what does He give in return? He gives the greater gifts. He gives peace. He gives spiritual blessing. He gives a heart that is no longer mastered by possessions. He gives the joy of participating in His kingdom work. He gives the privilege of seeing the Gospel advance through our generosity. He gives the deep satisfaction of knowing that what was once only a material thing has now been turned into an eternal investment. And yes, God blesses in practical ways too. He supplies daily needs. He cares for our homes. He watches over our families. He blesses the work of our hands. He provides in ways that remind us that He is not stingy, not reluctant, not distant—but generous and faithful. He gives “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” But even beyond all of that, God uses the generous giver to bless others. The saints are encouraged. The work of the ministry is strengthened. The needs of the church are met. The Gospel goes forward with power. God takes something as ordinary as money and uses it for something eternal and beautiful. He turns it into a channel of blessing that reaches far beyond what any of us could do on our own.

And why does God reward the liberal giver so liberally? Because God Himself is a giving God. “For God so loved the world, He gave…” That is the heart of our faith. God did not withhold what was most precious. He gave His Son. He gave grace. He gave mercy. He gave salvation. He continues to give far more than we could ever repay. And Christ Himself is our great example. He gave everything. He gave His life to redeem the lost. He poured Himself out for sinners. He held nothing back. God’s desire is to make us like His Son, and one of the ways He does that is by teaching us to give as Christ gave. Praise God for His provision. Praise God for His faithfulness. Praise God that He supplies all our needs according to His purposes. And praise God that when His people grow in generosity, He returns to them blessings that are far greater than anything money could purchase. I continue to pray that as generous as the saints are, they will continue to grow in generosity. For God has promised that those who give to Him will receive back a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Praise be to God.

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor John