God Speaking

“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.”

(Luke 6:38)

In this wealthy, consumer crazy Western part of the world we live in, I was surprised to read in the media that a “giving day” had been specified and set aside in the beginning of December to encourage people to give generously to charities of their choice. Perhaps the ploy was to get big corporations and well known companies to try to out-do each other, as they published what they were prepared to give on that day. Also at this time of the year the everyday person also has giving on his or her mind as they frantically search through shopping malls to find that perfect gift for a loved one.

When Jesus was speaking about giving, he was not talking about Christmas shopping. He was not talking about big corporations seeking praise from the crowds. He was not talking about the grudging thoughts of givers who hope the recipient will know just how much that present cost. He is not talking about present giving at all. The first and most important thing we begin to understand is that the perfect giver of any gift is the Heavenly Father himself;

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

Not only is the Lord the perfect giver of the perfect gift, he is himself the perfect gift to us;

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

When one of my granddaughters was a little girl I was trying to emphasise that the reason for celebrating Christmas was that it was Jesus’ birthday and in true child like innocence she remarked,

Where is his gift under the tree?

Where is his gift under the tree!

That question poses an almost more confounding question. What could a mere mortal ever give the perfect giver who is also the perfect gift to all mankind?

When we go back to God’s word we have the answer to life’s most complex questions and we find the answer here;

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.” (Proverbs 23:26)

But we can never out-give the perfect giver. So when we are willing to give ourselves to him, blessings of good measure will flow into to our lives in abundance and we will be able to spread these blessings to all those around us.