Freely Given, Freely Loved
By Dr. Brandon Steenbock, Family Minister
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.
“If you give, you will receive! You may not receive the harvest immediately, but if you plant, you will always be on the receiving end.” – Kenneth Copelan, Giving and Receiving
That’s a big promise. A promise that guys like Kenneth Copeland like to repeat. In fact, in the same book, Copeland writes, “Give, give, give expecting to receive, so you can give, give, give!”
It sounds like Jesus’ words in Luke 6:38, doesn’t it? Taking the verse on its own, I have to agree with Copeland. But that’s stressful. I balk at the idea of having to give, give, and give even more, just hoping and waiting on God to give back. Will I spend the next weeks, months, years just scraping by waiting? Meanwhile, that preacher is doing pretty well for himself.
Fortunately, I know better than to take one verse on its own. I read verses in context, and the context of Luke 6 is not about giving to get. In the verses prior, Jesus draws a comparison: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them” (6:32). The following discussion, including verse 38, is Jesus illustrating his point: “Love unconditionally and without expecting love back.” This is the upside-down ethic of Jesus’ kingdom, where love is freely given without expectation.
Jesus applies this ethic: do good, even if the person can’t do good back; lend to someone who can’t repay you; love your enemies; be merciful. It runs contrary to the world’s ethics. But it’s incredibly freeing. When I’m expecting something back, I’m always calculating, always reserved. But when I’m generous with no expectation of reward, nothing stops me from doing good, especially to those in need.
But doesn’t Jesus talk about a reward? Doesn’t he say the Father will reward us? Yes, but look at the promise: “You will be called children of the Most High” (6:35). Sounds like Jesus’ other promises of an inheritance in heaven, a reward on the Last Day,an eternal kingdom as part of God’s eternal family. The reward isn’t health, wealth, and good times in this life – it’s an eternal life of peace and joy to come.
In that context, I look at verses 37-38, where I’m told, “Don’t judge, so you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, so you won’t be condemned. Forgive, so you will be forgiven. Give, so that you will receive.”
There’s a pattern here: If I show the same mercy God has shown to me, I have nothing to worry about. If I judge, condemn, hate, withhold, I can expect judgment, condemnation, hatred, and hardship.
That’s convicting. I tell myself that Jesus says I’ll have troubles in this life. And that’s true. But if I’m honest, some of my troubles are of my own making. I’ve done dumb, ignorant, hurtful things to others. I’ve withheld forgiveness and generosity. I’ve sat in the seat of judgement. No wonder I have problems.
But let’s back up – do I earn God’s mercy by being good? Or do I do good by reflecting God’s mercy? In verse 36 Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” God was merciful first. He looked at me, living by the world’s ethics, and said, “My way is different,” and forgave me. He judged and condemned Jesus in my place, forgave my sin, and gave me the promise of his eternal kingdom. Now he’s just calling me to be like him.
I’m not earning anything. I’m not giving to get. I’m just showing the mercy and goodness my Father has shown me. That’s what children of the Most High do.
Prayer: Father, help me to be as merciful as you. When I see someone in need, give me the motivation and trust to be generous and helpful. When I see someone hurting, give me the desire to help. When I see someone broken, give me hands to heal. And take away all expectations of getting anything back that would keep me from loving freely. Help me love as unconditionally as you. Amen.