Give
It’s bad math yet somehow it seems to work out
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Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.
Luke 6:38 (NET)
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I try to be careful with the money verses.
So much of modern “American” Christianity is littered with bad thinking on money.
This verse could be one that people twist to tickle their listener’s ears.
What it shows is a rhythm to how God made the universe:
Generosity is reciprocated.
Mathematically, this doesn’t make much sense. How can giving resources away (time, money, energy, etc.) lead to overflowing resources returning?
I submit that this is not a formula but rather a general truth.
As such, it fits the same rules as the general proverb truths: always true except when it’s not.
… I know, not exactly helpful.
But so much of our walk with God lives in paradoxes like that.
Most of us would like for everything to be black & white, but the world is filled with gray. I’m okay with that.
Anyway, the reason I’ve experienced that this general truth plays out (besides the fact that Jesus, the creator of the Universe said so) is that’s just what happens with generous people.
There’s an attitude of thankfulness and humble charity that is attractive.
Not just attractive to people — though it is true that we all like to hang around generous people, they’re just more fun to be with — but, somehow, attractive to resources. Again, I can’t give you the math on this one, it just seems to work out that way.
Regardless, all of this is a heart attitude.
It’s pretty foolish to use generosity as a selfish “wealth-building” strategy.
And yet, it often has that effect.
🤷
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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