Don't Be Stingy

Luke 6:38 (KJV) – “[G]ive, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

When we were kids we might not have known the terms ‘hedonism’, ‘greed’ or ‘avarice’;  but it definitely did not take us long to understand the concept of ‘selfishness’ or ‘ being stingy’. When we had limited resources (just a few pieces of Now and Later or a handful of Nerds) and minimal access to disposable cash (hard to stretch that $1.00 allowance); we found ourselves hoarding.  We place tremendous worth on some things that intrinsically have little or no value. 

Seed is expensive, yet when he buys seed, the farmer does not hold on to it for dear life.  He prepares his field to receive the life giving vessels and when the sowing process begins, the farmer does not hoard the seed, no matter how expensive it might be.  He lavishly throws the seed into furrows in the rich soil because he knows that each seed has the potential to produce a yield far greater than his investment.  As he gives to the land freely, soon the seeds will take root, grown, blossom and bear fruit.  If he sows 5 seeds and only one grows to become an apple tree; that tree will more than abundantly give him a greater return than what he invested.  One apple will have more than 5 seeds in it; and surely that tree will bear more than one small solitary apple. 

We must be willing to give freely and with a good heart and spirit.  God promises that if we do this, our return will be not only ‘good’, which means we will be pleased with the initial harvest but then he sweetens the deal by saying we will gather even more to the point that it will spill over.  When you give, whether it is your tithe, sacrificial offering, love offering, benevolent offering; offering of your time, talents and skills be sure to do so with the ‘measure’ that you want to see come back at you again.  If we are stingy and unwilling to share or if we do share but complain about having to do so…then the measure of our return will be limited, scattered and issued under duress and contention.  And don't worry if you only have a small amount to share.  When God urges you to give, then do it with a pure heart.  Think about the lad with the fishes and loaves whose lunch served more than 5,000 with scraps left over.  When you place your gift in God’s hands he will make it more than enough.  You will be blessed; those around you will be blessed and God will be glorified.  There surely can be no greater return on your investment.  Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day.  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn.