Give and it shall be given unto you....

This morning I was singing to the LORD a song by Misty Edwards called “I Give It All.” I was repeating the verse, “You have my love, You have my heart. I give it all to You, I give it all to You,” when the LORD replied:

“Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

I was awestruck, and still am to be honest.

For so long I considered this scripture (Luke 6:38) only in regards to finances, but it’s so much deeper than that.

If you look at the scriptures prior to and after this verse, Jesus was teaching on how to treat one another. He talks about not judging others, not condemning others, forgiving others, not putting yourself above others (as in superior or better than them), and so much more (Luke 6:37-42)

There’s something interesting about the greek words used here for “judge” and “condemn” that I want to highlight for a moment.

The greek word used here for judge is “krino” and has several meanings. In regards to judging, it means to judge by announcing an opinion concerning right or wrong, to pass judgement on the deeds and words of others. It also means to separate, put asunder, to pick out. And this is what happens when we judge someone. We separate them from ourselves, and often cause a division within themselves, as we pass onto them our critical opinions. Think about when you have been unfairly judged based on someone else’s opinion? What did it do to you on the inside? I can honestly say there have been times it felt like I was being torn to pieces inside when faced with someone’s self-righteous judgement.

The greek word used here for condemn is “katadikazo” and is not that different from “krino” in that it means to give judgment against (one), to pronounce guilty; to condemn.

In other words, to judge and condemn is to accuse someone of something. Hmmm….so you become like an accuser of brethren…..which happens to be a title given to the fallen angel Lucifer, whom we call Satan. Who by the way is an enemy to all of mankind. But that’s another story for another day.

Therefore Jesus warns us not to fall into these subtle traps.

In the book of Matthew, this same teaching is written as such:

“For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:2)

Here it is again! Not referring to finances, but referring to the condition of one’s heart.

As I meditated on this, I realized there was a root to this teaching that is not straight out spoken, but the fingerprints are all over it. The root to treating others the way you would want to be treated is by loving them with “agape” love, the love of God. The love of God is in direct opposition of the actions mentioned above. In 1 Corinthians 13 we are given a nice and neat list of what the love of God is and does. Verses 4-8 are as follows:

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

So as I have poured my love on God, His love is pouring out of me onto others, and in return I have had others pour that love out on me.

Now, not everyone will receive the love of God being poured over them, and not everyone will reciprocate by pouring that love back to you.

We can look at this financially, if that is difficult to understand.

Not everyone I have financially blessed, has or will financially bless me in return. BUT God can bring a financial blessing through someone else obedient to His leading.

So when we love the so-called “unlovable” (I do not like this term, but I’m using it as an example because many people have labeled others as “unlovable”) they may not return that love to you, BUT if you walk in the love of God, He will lead someone into your life to reciprocate His love to you.

Just as we are warned to not judge, lest we receive that same judgement or worse, we can love and receive that love or even greater in return.

Because our God is all about giving, and part of giving is receiving! Otherwise, what would be the point of giving if there was no one to receive?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16)

Therefore let us receive Jesus, Whom God the Father gave to us! And as we have received Him, let us therefore give unto others as the Father has given to us by witnessing to this world the good news of Jesus Christ and His love. And this witnessing is not only in word, but also in deed (1 John 3:18). For Jesus came not only with words of salvation, but He saved us in deed as He went to the cross to suffer and die for our sins. Paying not only the price for our sins, but completely overcoming them, conquering the grave as He rose from the dead. Whoop Whoop!!! Praise God, the Most High God!!!

Let me end here before I get lost in praise, lol.

I pray this has blessed you and helped you. I have given it to you as the LORD has shown me. The Lord is so good to us and desires us to know Him more. I encourage you to spend time with Him, intimate time with Him, void of distractions and the business of this world. In that secret place with Him, He reveals Himself more and more, something new every time. There you really learn about giving and receiving!

God bless you and keep you💗 Until next time….