Give And Be Given
Augustine rightfully identifies kind acts, given out of generosity, leading to reciprocity. It is a practice of active kindness that is an act of love.
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Give and Be Given (by David Peterson at The Rock Of Jesus Church)
Jesus preaches His “Sermon on the Plateau”, near Capernaum, about how faithful followers are to work and live. In Luke 6:38 Jesus says; “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”. Jesus speaks about generosity here in what is also known as the law of reciprocity. He alerts us to this principle that teaches we get what we give. He says if we give freely, pressed down and shaken so more of a commodity can be added to a container, we can expect the same in return. It is a concept of “we reap what we sow” where if we forgive we will be forgiven; if we treat others the way we want to be treated … if we give we will receive. Giving to others freely and generously leads to abundance.
Augustine of Hippo once wrote; “The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested and generous; it is friendship and communion: Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.”
Augustine rightfully identifies kind acts, given out of generosity, leading to reciprocity. It is a practice of active kindness that is an act of love.
Mary Jackson Cathey wrote “Give Thanks, O Christian People” in 1984. The first verse reads;
Give thanks, O Christian people, for workers of our day
Who heed the call to service and make it their life’s way
To go to feed the hungry, to tend to those in need
To work for equal justice, till all God’s folk are freed.
Cathey cites the people in the kingdom who serve others in the Father’s name.
Let us pray; Heavenly Father, teach us to give to one another as needed and not for our own gain. Teach us, guide us, toward generosity without expectation as we love one another as ourselves. Amen.
