The gift of giving

Luke 6:36 (NLT)
38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

This verse is part of a passage where Jesus tells us not to just others by what they have, by the condition of their life, or for who they are. We are to be forgiving and loving towards people. In verse 38 Jesus says we should give freely out of our hearts and in doing so a gift of full measure will be returned to us.

I love watching people at a self-serve soda fountain. People will stand there for the longest time trying to get their cup filled right up to the brim. They try to get as much as they can while waiting for the foam to die down before attempting to put more in the cup. Some will even go as far as taking a few drinks before finally settling for a full cup. This is a description of the gift you receive when you give to others. It may not be money that is returned or even something tangible. What you get though is a great reward that satisfies the heart. And it will feel as if your heart is packed down, overflowing with the joy of what you have done for another. What you give will be abundantly more satisfying than anything you could be handed.