By Mark Larocca | July 15, 2021
“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.” – Jesus [Luke 6:38]
Jesus really has a way of making us think. When I read this teaching from his Sermon on the Mount, it raises some questions in my mind about giving:
- How are we to give?
- What should our motivation be?
- How do most of us give?
- What does “get back” from giving look like?
- Should there be a limit to our giving?
This last question in particular really gets me. Truly, I try to give as much I can, but I know I limit myself. I know I rarely give “until it hurts.” I think it’s easy for us to give enough just to get by. We give enough to feel good. We give enough to meet some specific need. We give enough to be accepted in Christian community. But if we only give “enough,” not only are we limiting Christ’s kingdom impact but also we’re limiting what we get back in return. Jesus didn’t give just enough. He gave it all.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to watch Jesus play a sport, like rugby. I mean, these athletes are crazy! They give it all. Have you seen the All Blacks from New Zealand? Rugby players leave it all out on the field with great sacrifice to their bodies. What if our giving looked more like this, not only with our money but our time as well? I know I don’t give this way. Do you? How cool would it be if those of us who have so very, very much gave like a rugby player, going all-in to a need or opportunity.
To give with less limits, we need to be honest about what we value and remember what is eternally valuable. I’ve watched people die, and they weren’t concerned about their money. They cared about what they did with their life and who they did it with. The day will come for all of us when not money or silver or even gold will be of much value to us. What will matter the most is what we did with what we’ve been given. I believe what will matter most to us are those moments of opportunity where we were generous.
Let’s make the most of the moments of opportunity to be generous today. The next time we feel moved to give, we should give of ourselves fully. And we should connect deeply with the ones we’re helping. Pause and have a conversation with them. Let them know someone cares. Let them know they’re important. Let them know God loves them. If we give of ourselves fully with no limits, we may even receive something back in full, and overflowing. At least that’s what Jesus said.
Mark Larocca lives in Valparaiso, Indiana and is married to his wife Kristin of over 25 years, and they have two children. His passions are God, his family, the church, businesses, and of course his adrenaline hobbies of mountain biking and sports cars! Mark spent 20 plus years as an entrepreneur and insurance agency owner, using insurance and financial solutions to serve clients in some of the most challenging environments in the world. His final professional goal is to help business owners “build great businesses for a greater purpose.” He does this through his latest role as the C12 Chair of Northwest Indiana, an international ministry that expands the kingdom of God through marketplace leaders.
