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.” — Luke 6:38 (NIV)
The Open-Handed Kingdom
In a world where we’re told to hold tightly—to our time, our money, our energy—Jesus invites us to live with open hands. His words in Luke 6:38 are more than a call to generosity; they are an invitation into a different way of living—one that believes that giving doesn’t leave us with less, but makes space for more.
“Give,” He says. And not only give, but give freely, willingly, and abundantly. Because in the Kingdom of God, generosity always echoes back. Not as a transaction, but as a testimony of how God multiplies surrendered hearts.
The Generosity of God’s Measure
Jesus uses imagery the crowd would understand: grain sellers filling a basket. A good merchant wouldn’t just fill the basket and stop. They’d press it down, shake it to settle the grain, and pour in more until it overflowed.
That’s the picture of how God gives. Not sparingly. Not just enough. But pressed down, shaken together, running over.
This is not a prosperity promise—it’s a Kingdom principle. The more we give of ourselves—love, forgiveness, kindness, time, service—the more God pours into us the richness of His own presence and provision. His abundance meets us when we release what we’re tempted to keep.
Giving Is About Trust
At its core, giving is an act of trust.
- – Trust that God will provide.
- – Trust that we’re not losing when we let go.
- – Trust that what we pour out in love, He will replenish in ways we didn’t expect.
Jesus isn’t just talking about finances here—He’s talking about the full life of a believer. Give grace, peace, room, and mercy. Forgive. Bless. Show up. Pour out.
And then watch—how your lap, your heart, your life becomes a vessel God keeps filling.
Live Like You’re Already Blessed
Sometimes we wait until we feel like we have “enough” to give. But what if the blessing isn’t just after the giving—it’s through the giving?
- – You don’t have to be rich to be generous.
- – You don’t have to be perfect to be kind.
- – You don’t have to be overflowing to pour out—you just have to be willing.
God doesn’t use our leftovers. He uses our loaves and fish—the little we offer in faith—to feed the multitudes.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being so generous with me. You’ve given me grace upon grace, more than I could ever deserve. Help me to live open-handed, to give without fear, to love without limits. Show me where I can pour out what You’ve poured into me. Let my life be a channel of Your abundance—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- – What’s something you’ve been holding back that God may be asking you to give?
- – How have you experienced the “overflow” of God’s goodness in return for your obedience?