Luke 6:38New Living Translation (NLT)

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

What does it really cost to give?

I’m a pay it forward kind of girl, I will almost always pay for the person behind me in a drive thru, it doesn’t matter what the cost. (hey, its fast food the most I’ve ever paid was 20 bucks) A pastor I’m friends with on FB wrote a status saying someone had paid for his lunch one day, so the next day he was going to do the same.When he got to  the window the car behind his totaled $12.00 so he decided that was too much to pay. His “friends” all thought it was funny but it “bothered” me. Whats $12.00 compared to the return on God’s investment?

Many people think they can’t afford to give, but let me tell you this; you can’t afford NOT to.

Giving is more than money. Most of us have no problem giving someone a piece of our minds, or giving someone our opinion, or giving someone something we no longer want. What about the best of what you have?

Sunday, a good friend of mine was wearing this scarf that a young lady kept raving about. She immediately took it off and gave it to the girl. My friend KNOWS the power of giving, she knows that God will pay her back WAY more than that scarf is worth. One of the associate ministers at my church wears the coolest bow ties and one of the young guys commented on how much he liked it, the minister untied the tie and gave it to him. Not only did he give it to him, he showed him HOW to tie it. These people will always have “pressed down” blessings from God.

Why does the scripture refer to “pressed down”? Ever had to measure flour? You just don’t scoop it out and dump it in your recipe. You scoop it out and press it down so that it fills the cup completely, packing it tight gives you MORE. I don’t know about you but I need MORE from God. I NEED pressed down, MORE from God.

I don’t give to get recognized, that’s why the drive thru method works for me, they don’t know me, and I don’t know them. God knows me and is keeping score.

I encourage you today, find a way to give, and watch God “pay you back” God is a God of increase!