A few years ago, my family walked into a toy store where there was a massive display of Mr. Potato Heads, along with dozens of parts and accessories for the little spuds. On the display were small empty boxes that children (and parents!) could stuff full of all the Potato Heads and parts they wanted and pay a fixed price of $18. Needless to say, we bought a box and I crammed and stuffed every corner of it with every spud accessory known to man. Then, the trick was to get the lid closed on the box to complete the sale. Every side of that little box, especially the lid, was bulging when we were done.
The experience reminded me of the promise that God makes in Luke 6:38 to those who give. The very first word in the verse, “Give,” is an imperative, i.e., a command from God. And, in the present tense, it indicates a habitual behavior, not just a one-time act. Following His command, God makes a promise—a promise that is, no doubt, hard for us to comprehend—“and it will be given to you.” Try to wrap your imagination around the promised blessing of God, as He gives to us.
God starts with “good measure.” God does not start by giving us just a little. From the very beginning, He’s already giving us more than we deserve. But, for God, a “good measure” is not enough to give us.
The good measure is “pressed down.” Those Potato Head parts were pressed down into every square inch of the box so that I could fit more. God, with His Almighty and all-caring hand, presses down on our good measure so that He can pour on some more.
In addition to being pressed down, the good measure is “shaken together.” I remember shaking that box of parts to get them to shift and let gravity fill in the gaps. God wants to fill in every gap of our lives with His blessings, so that His good measure is made even better and fuller and more abundant than we can imagine.
God’s gifts are “running over.” In the toy store, the lid of the box had to be closed to complete the sale. When it comes to God blessing us, there is no lid! God does not put a top on our lives and say, “That’s all! That’s enough!” He gives us more than we can “contain.”
What an incredibly vivid, overwhelming and humbling picture for God to paint of His blessings. Remember, this is based on “the same measure you use” in giving.