What you Give will determine the amount you Get

Luke 6:38  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.

OR in the Message Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

This verse has been hijacked by those who teach prosperity doctrine and see in this verse a formula for getting rich but there are in fact wonderful truths for us to meditate on.

It is so easy when reading this verse to think of giving in terms of money. The Message is surely right to expand this to the whole of life. Jesus didn’t come to earth to hand out money and if we are to follow Jesus giving has to do with giving ourselves. Our lives are all about giving rather than getting, about serving rather than being served, about how we can bless others rather than be blessed. Giving has to do with choosing to actively listen rather than talk, it has to do with patiently being with those who are 'hard work' to be with. Sacrificial giving doesn’t mean working very long hours for self fulfilment but making ourselves available to God.  He has already generously given us all things and will never owe us anything. People will notice when our attitude is not selfish but life giving. It is when we are trully generous that we will receive abundantly from God, not necessarily materially but compared to possesions peace, joy and love are so much more valuable. 

Father help us to be giving people, known for being a blessing, ready to patiently serve with a pure heart.