By Pastor Don Schatz

Life to the Full

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” 
Luke 6:38 New International Version

My granddaughter loves mermaids and unicorns.  So, for her birthday she wanted both on her cake.  And she got it.  Her mom slathered many mermaids, unicorns, unicorn horns and sprinkles on that cake.  It was impressive.  Even to me, and I don’t like cake.  I do like frosting!

Scripture uses many images for God’s generous providence.  The pages of the Bible are replete with God’s promises to take care of us, to provide for us.  This verse is often used in worship for stewardship.  ‘See, give to God and he will give back, and more!’  Well, hopefully it is not used like that because that would be crass.  The motivation for giving is to get even more back!  Sounds like some sort of celestial ponzi scheme.

When my wife and I first married, we were united in our commitment to tithe to the Lord and his Church.  True to his word, God provided over the years.  Sometimes we wondered, truth to tell.  But God always provided for us, not infrequently in ways we would not have considered.  In Luke’s verse, Jesus reminds us of trusting God that is basic to faith.

There is a wider context to ‘stewardship’.  We give to family and friends.  We give to sisters and brothers in the Church.  A disaster occurs somewhere in the world, and we have the opportunity to give.  Christ’s love moves our compassion and our giving.  We can be generous, because God has provided.

And the reverse is true.  It is for me.  I suspect it has been for you as well.  When we are in need, others help.  God provides.  They laugh with us; they cry with us.  They call, or even send an actual card, when we are struggling.  They encourage.  They love us.  And our Life is Full, as Jesus promised.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado