| This is another misquoted verse, and sacred cow | | | | giving monetarily, let me say this. I'm aware for |
| that might need to be killed. | | | | example that the Scriptures say "Give and it shall be |
| I've been thinking about a commonly misrepresented | | | | given unto you" But however, though both of these |
| passage of Scripture lately as I've heard it misused a | | | | verses in Matthew and Luke can be used in |
| lot: Matthew 10:7-8. Most people think of it in | | | | application with our finances, neither one of them is |
| correlation to finances or material belongings. | | | | taught in that context. I have heard countless |
| However, it comes from when Jesus sent out the 12 | | | | Christians quote Luke 6:38 and say about financial |
| disciples to go from village to village preaching the | | | | breakthroughs: "Give, and it will be given to you. A |
| gospel and performing the wonders of which Jesus | | | | good measure, pressed down, shaken together and |
| gave them authority: As you go, preach this | | | | running over, will be poured into your lap." Like I said, |
| message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'Heal the | | | | there's nothing harmful about applying this to what |
| sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, | | | | we do with our finances, but however, if we were |
| drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely | | | | simply reading Luke 6 and left that passage in |
| give. (v. 7-8) | | | | context, we wouldn't necessarily read it that way. |
| The context has nothing to do with giving the | | | | Look at at least v.37-42: "Do not judge, and you will |
| money they have, because frankly, they didn't have | | | | not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be |
| any: Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in | | | | condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, |
| your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra | | | | and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed |
| tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth | | | | down, shaken together and running over, will be |
| his keep. (v. 9-10; the verses immediately after those | | | | poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, |
| other two). This passage can't possibly be talking | | | | it will be measured to you." He also told them this |
| about money or belongings if Jesus just told them | | | | parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they |
| not to take any with them, therefore they'd only be | | | | not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his |
| able to give the 'nothing' they have financially. If you | | | | teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like |
| freely received and have nothing, then that's what | | | | his teacher. "Why do you look at the speck of |
| you have to give. | | | | sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention |
| So the thing He's more likely to be telling them is to | | | | to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to |
| give what they DO have (duh, I know I sound | | | | your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of |
| learned and deep don't I?). What do they have? He | | | | your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in |
| called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them | | | | your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank |
| authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every | | | | out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to |
| disease and sickness. (v. 1 of that chapter). The | | | | remove the speck from your brother's eye" |
| freely giving as we have been given revolves more | | | | Clearly the backdrop for the "pressed down and |
| around the power of God and the Holy Spirit than it | | | | shaken together running over" is not one of our |
| does finances or material gain. I'm not saying that | | | | finances, but of how we treat others in interpersonal |
| money can't be applied to it to this and that we | | | | relationships and is a general teaching. Like I said, it |
| shouldn't give what we have, but I just find it | | | | doesn't harm anybody to give money, and then see |
| interesting that this verse is so commonly used to | | | | money given to them. However, in case you're |
| take up offerings with in church services, or used to | | | | saying to yourself "If I had a lot come in, then I'll do |
| judge other Christians that have more finances than | | | | x y z… with it". This verse actually puts the |
| some of us, when it has nothing to do with money in | | | | emphasis on our part (the giving) first, and THEN |
| immediate context. | | | | receiving. |
| Just some quick food for thought. | | | | I hear a sacred cow shouting 'moo' as it gets minced |
| Before anybody accuses me of overlooking or | | | | into ground beef. |
| forgetting that the Bible does teach elsewhere about | | | | |