Give and It Will Be Given to You—Really?

By Scott Morton, International Fundraising Coach

Luke 6:38 “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.”

This has become a well-used proverb regarding tithing— you’re sure to get money back for money given, tit for tat. Some preachers have hijacked this verse and made it a formula guaranteeing a financial return for a “seed gift” to their ministry.

Sadly, we are skeptical of and hesitate to claim this wonderful promise. It seems too materialistic. How can giving a mere few dollars guarantee a financial benefit in return? A surprise awaits us as we dive into its context. Look at the powerful verbs from verse 28 on.

6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 6:30 Give to everyone who asks of you … 6:31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 6:35 Love your enemies; do good and lend, expecting nothing in return … 6:36 Be merciful … 6:37 Do not judge, do not condemn; pardon and you will be pardoned. And finally verse 38, Give.

Christmas Outreach by various ministries Pray for the Lord to move mightily in and through His people, to tell of His Son’s birth and sacrifice this season.

Luke 6:28-37 is about building relationships, especially with those who mistreat you. When we love even those who are unkind, when we are merciful and forgiving, when we seek the other person’s good, these same people pour into our lap even more in return—love, mercy and forgiveness—than we originally gave. This is the mark of discipleship with Jesus as our leader, and as we grow in Christlikeness.

They will pour into your lap. The Jews wore a full-length robe which could be pulled up at the waist to form a deep pocket (or lap) for carrying grain and groceries home from the market. What about getting money back? Sure, if money is given, money could come back. But notice how verse 35 says “expecting nothing in return.” “Give so that it will be given to you” is not a guaranteed formula to coerce God to bless you financially. Such an attitude towards giving is disappointing to Him. Jesus’ followers need to give without expecting a return.

Apostle Paul captured Jesus’ teaching in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 when he said to the new Thessalonian believers, “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”

My Christian friend, when you give money, do you secretly hope for a financial windfall? Instead, why not focus on simply loving and serving others cheerfully? Let us give our hearts, our emotions, our time, and yes, our money, without expecting anything in return. And wait and see what happens! To whom can you give today?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I enjoy and am grateful for Your blessings that are being poured into my lap. But sometimes I hesitate to take the first step to build or re-build relationships. Help me not to withhold my emotions, my time, my finances and my energy from people in my world. Help me to be more interested in others than in me, starting with my own family. Amen.

Extracted with permission from Scott Morton’s upcoming book, “What the Bible Actually Says About Money: 31 Meditations”.