October 28, 2003
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (NRSV)
Luke 6:38

It seemed like magic: Wanting to help in the kitchen when I was still quite young, I carefully followed my mother’s instructions for filling the almost-empty flour canister. “Fill it all the way to the top. Put the lid on. And shake it from side to side.” Which I did. But when I opened it, the canister was no longer full. There was room for more.

The measure of love and blessing we receive from God is like that flour--pressed down, shaken together, running over, a measure of abundance far beyond imagination, an abundance of love that goes so far as to sacrifice the life of God’s only Son for us. Through that love and sacrificial giving, we have received more than it seems possible to receive and know the example of giving abundantly.

Those who go on mission trips to build homes for those who have none tell of receiving far more from those for whom they built the house than they gave to them, even though the builders gave the gift of shelter and dwelling. Those who’ve taken time to tutor a child acknowledge that they have received, from their student, much more in return for their giving. What joy there is in giving someone a gift that truly delights him or her--a joy that is a gift in itself.

When we give, we do receive, perhaps not like for like, but in the rich abundance of joy and delight, love and nurture that go beyond measure.

Thank you, O God, for your lavish love. It is love so generous that I cannot begin to give gratitude measure for measure for all that I have received. But I can let that love run over, sharing it abundantly with others. Help me to live that life of gratitude, sharing without measure the love and light of your presence in all I do and say and give. Amen.

Written by Ann Rehfeldt, Director of Communications