Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
I started baking around 9 years old. My mom was our county’s 4-H leader and all my siblings and I signed up for the “Foods” category as one of the projects we would take to the fair. My mom enjoyed baking and wanted to pass it on to us. Baking requires precise measurements and lots of practice to perfect it. The more I practiced, the better I got, the more I enjoyed it. The same goes for giving. The more I released my finances to God and the more I enjoyed it. This verse resonates with me as I see God’s goodness in it’s measuring system – just like in my baking.
Good Measure
Measuring flour was a little challenging for me as I learned the proper technique. Flour measurement requires lightly shaking the cup up to fill in the gaps and then scraping the top with the back edge of the knife to ensure a full cup portion. Life can require this as well. Shaking me to the point of surrendering my will and plans. God has a way of filling in the gaps and smoothing out the rough places in my life. More of Him and less of me is usually a better mix.
Pressed down
To get a good portion of brown sugar, I learned another measurement technique. I must pack down the sugar to get a better portion. Once I have a good portion, I can smoothly plop it out of the cup into my mixing bowl. I always love how perfectly uniform a well-packed cup of sugar looks in the mixing bowl. It molds to the shape of the cup. The yummy goodness of brown sugar adds to the flavor. Without this well-packed measurement, there would be less sweetness.
A life of giving is like a well-packed cup of sugar, the more you can pack into your giving the greater measure of goodness is reflected in your life. As God molds my generosity – He brings the sweetness out in my life. This can be modeled to my kids and others too.
Shaken together
Some baking recipes call to sift the dry ingredients together to make them well-blended and void of unwanted particles. Generosity can cause a shake-up in my life. It leads to a deeper trust and dependency upon God with the details and results of my offering – understanding His provision and my stewardship role.
Running over
This week our family verse is Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.” Understanding my riches in Christ Jesus leads to knowing and acknowledging my need and the only real person who can supply it with His rich love and grace.
Giving generously with my time, money and skills leads to a deeper connection and a running over of His love in my life. Giving can be a precise offering of just a tithe or it can continue to run over in all areas of my life – until I become pressed down, shaken together and running over in a lifestyle of generous living.
One of my favorite T-shirts boldly states, ‘Give Generously Live Generously’. I am always a little convicted when I wear it. Does my life reflect it? How great an impact in our world if everyone had a good measurement system in their giving and living!
Good Measure
Pressed down. Shaken Together. Running Over.
Where does God want to shake-up my lifestyle so I can be more generous in my living and giving?