Sunday 12 April 2026
Kia ora koutou, and warm greetings and Talofa lava!
Refilling the Milo jar made me think about a certain passage from Luke 6 which talks about generosity.
Luke 6:37-38
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.”
In the earlier section of Luke 6, Jesus has just finished talking about love for enemies. We are to show them mercy. This means we shouldn’t pre-judge and condemn people, but be prepared to forgive them.
When we fail to forgive others or condemn them, it hardens our own hearts. The forgiveness mentioned here is relational. Our relationship with God will be
affected if we don’t forgive, but He will never take away the forgiveness He grants us for salvation. There is a place for civil justice. Crime will be punished, it’s not our job to punish or seek revenge.
In this scripture, Jesus teaches us to cultivate an inner generosity of forgiveness, grace, and love.
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
What does this mean? The illustration comes from the buying of grain. A generous merchant would pour his grain into a measuring jar or basket, then press it down and shake it together to maximize the space. He would do this until the grain overflowed, ensuring the full grain volume would be given. The contents were then spilled into the recipient’s lap, who folded his outer garment like a pocket and used it to transport the grain.
Jesus says we will get back to the degree we are willing to invest in others and in this life – “The amount you give will determine the amount you get back”. Jesus wasn’t focused on financial giving here. He was talking about everything we do, urging us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”
Are we stingy with our grace, kindness, forgiveness, and love toward others? Or, are we lavishing these gifts to the same degree Jesus poured them out on us? We
cannot love like Jesus in our own strength, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s be extra generous today!
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