Anchor My Faith

How We Give

Scripture: Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:24 Luke 6:38, 8:18

In our previous lesson, we learn the importance of practicing our righteousness without seeking praise. In this lesson we will look at our giving. Our text, for this lesson, is woven together from verses found in Matthew, Mark and Luke: ^{Lk 6:38} “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. ^{Mk 4:24} Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. ^{​​Lk 8:18} Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, ^{Mt 13:12} and he will have an abundance, ^{Lk 8:18} and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Looking back one verse for a wider context, Jesus tells us to forgive others and we will be forgiven. In the context of forgiving, we are to give as evidence of our forgiveness. The command to forgive and give goes beyond the command of not judging others and seeks the positive well-being of others. As we give to others in need, God in return will give to us in abundance. That abundance is described in four ways: “good measure” suggests not meagerly but much; “pressed down” would fill all available space, like stuffing a trash bag; “shaken together” to cause settling of the container’s contents to receive more; “running over” suggests that enough has been added to the container so that a rounded heap will form on the top, like loading gravel on a truck until it flows over the sides. Jesus states that is how much will be given to you, placed in your lap.

Next, Jesus tells us to pay attention to what we hear and receive it with the right attitude. If we take what we hear (or read) and apply it to our lives in reaching out to others, then God will give even more to us. As I study God’s word I pray that the gap between what I learn and how I apply it will be as small as possible; that I will be found faithful in the small things so that he will bless me with greater things. The one who has gained more through embracing the teachings of Jesus, will be given even more and we will have an abundance. Unfortunately, here in the west we tend to interpret this abundance in physical terms. Sometimes this may be true, but a greater spiritual blessing is in view here.

Jesus concludes this section with a warning and an example. The warning is if we have received instruction from the Lord and do not respond to it in a positive way, what we have will gradually be removed from us. There is no middle ground in our walk with Jesus. We either embrace what he says and grow spiritually and help others meet their physical and spiritual needs, or we do nothing with it and our love grows cold. Be careful, because in end times the love of many will grow cold.

The example Jesus gives involves dogs and pigs. “Dogs” and “pigs” were seen as scavenging animals and represent the unclean. The Jews referred to them to describe those apart from, or enemies of, Israel’s covenant community. The word of God is then compared to pearls. Jesus is thus saying that we are to have wisdom in who we give it to and when we give it lest they trample it and turn to destroy us. There is a difference between evil lost sheep, whose hearts are still hard, and simply evil people who will never be drawn by the word. We are to have discernment, especially in countries of persecution, to know who is who. 

Prayer

Father, the more I study this material, the more I realize how little the western Christian knows about the teachings of Jesus and as a result how small our influence in our culture is. It is so easy for Christians to spend time with the things of the world and not take time to study and apply the teachings of Jesus. Father, forgive us and have mercy on us.