Generosity Impacts Everything

November 16, 2022

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 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. Luke 6:37-38 NLT

Typically, these verses are separated when we preach, study, or talk about them. It seems at first read like they are talking about separate ideas. But they are not. This is from the record of the Sermon on the Mount, an account of Christ’s teachings that He probably gave many times as He traveled over and over. He was laying the foundation of His new kingdom and was repeating the principles of the life that is really life” (John 10:10) that He came to give His followers.

Here's a great project for cold winter days. Read the four gospels, first-person accounts of people who walked and talked with Jesus, written within just a few years after Jesus had returned to heaven. There were plenty of other eyewitnesses who could contradict anything untrue. The contradictions never happened until years and years later when skeptics began to call them legends grown up over time. This has historically been proven untrue. They were written by people who truly knew Jesus and followed Him as Lord. They passed on His message and methods as the way of life.

As you read and reread these historical documents, remember that Matthew, Mark, Luke (he wrote from interviews with Peter, Mary, and many others), and John were not “writing the Bible.” There was no Bible. They were writing records of what factually happened so people could know the truth. Many others did the same thing. These are the ones chosen to be in what we call the Bible (Old and New Testament) by a church council in 363 A.D.—not written then—just put in a compilation. They wrote courageously. They were persecuted for unwillingness to call Caesar Lord, only following Christ. Matthew, Mark, Peter, and Luke were all martyred for this, and John died of old age in exile. They were willing because they watched Jesus live, die, and live again. They KNEW He WAS God.

As you read, watch for the message and method of generosity. Jesus was all about it. He spoke continually and taught it by example. It is the core of everything, His lifestyle and ours. These verses absolutely go together—a lifestyle that is more than money. It’s everything. Be so generous relationally that you cannot be judgmental. Be so generous that you just can’t condemn. (Remember, Jesus the pure One said that He didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it).

Freely forgive. Give with absolute generosity. Your life will be rich. God will pour all you need in every area back into your lap. You will never have empty hands or an empty heart—per Jesus.

• Jesus, thank You for the records of Your message and methods. I want to be like You. Help me have the courage to live and love with Your generosity.