What Luke 6:38 has to do with finances?

Question

Why do some preachers use this scripture for the offering time? I don't see any principles about financial success in that scripture. Am I wrong?

Serious anwers, please.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38)

Answer 1

This scripture is not a promise of financial success, rather it is a promise that as we give to others of our time, wisdom, effort, and resources (including money sometimes), the Lord will make sure that our basic needs will be met. The concept here is that generosity is a reciprocal concept (when it is done out of love and not out of an expectation to get back). True riches have nothing to do with money anyway.

Answer 2

Xena,
Better verses could be chosen. Maybe that has something to do with the lack of knowledge some preachers seem to have.

It has to do with giving, but refers more to the way they used to carry things around.

LUKE 6:38

Good measure They shall give you good measure, or "full" measure.

Pressed down As figs or grapes might be, and thus many more might be put into the measure.

Shaken together To make it more compact, and thus to give more.

Running over So full that the measure would overflow.

Shall men give This is said to be the reward of "giving" to the poor and needy; and the meaning is that the man who is liberal will find others liberal to him in dealing with them, and when he is also in circumstances of want. A man who is himself kind to the poor -- who has that character established -- will find many who are ready to help him abundantly when he is in want. He that is parsimonious, close, *********, will find few or none who will aid him.

Into your bosom That is, to you. The word "bosom" here has reference to a custom among Oriental nations of making the bosom or front part of their garments large, so that articles could be carried in them, answering the purpose of our pockets. Compare Exo. 4:6,7; Prov. 6:27; Ruth 3:15.

Answer 3

Give and it will be given in like manner.

There are several verses
some state return of 7 fold.

You should know you should pay for what you are taught, now at some churches (many) to me their wage should be about $.50 on a $40 an hour rate including tip!

Answer 4

It was up to the Churches to fulfill the needs of the less fortunate. There was no welfare with the government. In order for the Churches to fulfill the needs, the needs at the Churches needed to be met. One thing for sure is that one can NEVER outgive God. I can find the scriptures to prove this if need be. just saying.

Answer 5

Many churches depend on their congregations to help not only support the church, but the churches charities, such as feeding the homeless, clothing the poor, etc, all of this takes money time and donations.If one gives from their heart as that verse states, you will be blessed

Answer 6

I look at that passage from it's fuller context.

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, 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." Luke 6:37-38

To me it's rather ambiguous as to whether Jesus is talking about alms giving or rather about showing mercy to others and receiving mercy for our own trespasses.

Here's the parallel passage from the book of Matthew.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5

The passage that most preachers who are teaching about giving use is this one.

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

A believer is supposed to give cheerfully what they have decided in their heart to give according to their faith that God will honor their sacrificial giving by causing circumstances to work out so that they will always have enough to meet their needs including their desire to invest the resources that He has made them a steward of in the Kingdom work of Heaven that will result in eternal rewards.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:19-24

Answer 7

It can appply to finances but overall it has a general application in the pricipal of sowing and reaping. If you sow much you reap much if you sow little you reap little. This does indeed apply to finances but it also applies to out service to God to our loving God and others and almost anything else you can think of.
Unfortunately some pastors and churchs are fixated on money. Fix your eyes on Jesus and He will take care of anything and everything else.

Answer 8

God also said in the bible that whatever we give will be repaid 10 fold.

This just says that you should give generously, and that you will receive not only the joy of giving, but the blessing of God returning your gift.

I believe it. God has given me many blessings in my life, and I feel that I wouldn't be as well-off today if I wouldn't have given.

Answer 9

It may not be speaking only of finances, but certainly it applies in that area, as well. We are to give ourselves completely to Him, too. Does that mean financially? Of course it does. Does that mean emotionally? Of course it does.

If we cannot give to God financially, which is a material thing, we will not be able to give of ourselves, which is spiritual.

Answer 10

This is my favourite point to preach against. I couldn't agree with you more. Also
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
This verse is used alongside it. 2Tim.4[ 2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [ 3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Acts.20[ 28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God , which He, Yeshua hath purchased with His own blood.[29 ] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.[ 30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
2Pet.2:[1 ] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.[2 ] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.[3] And through covetousness shall they with "feigned words" make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I could go on but I'm hoping you and everyone else gets the picture. Bless you and thanx for sharing the truth.