Judging what to give

Jesus taught about how we are to give in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured unto you." Matthew 7:1-2

In particular, Jesus is warning us that in the way we judge others, we will be judged. The measuring cup we use to give to others will be the same measuring cup that is used to give to us. God judges us in the same way we judge others. Luke 6 records a similar teaching.

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; release and you will be released. Give and it will be given back to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:36-38

God is at work in the circumstances of life, not to punish us for our hard heart, but to teach mercy. We are to be merciful, just as He is merciful. We are to be perfect, just as He is perfect. He has a purpose in what He is doing; He is diligent to return our judgments to us in such a way that we recognize that we are receiving something in return for what we have done to others. We are to live by a law of mercy for others.

"So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:12-13

Mercy, not judgment, is to guide us in what we give to others.

In mercy, we are to give richly to others. But in this mercy, we need to recognize that we also need help. In giving, we may come to see ourselves as better than those we help.

"And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Matthew 7:3-5

Jesus did not word what He said to imply that sometimes we have a worst problem than those we are helping; He said we will have a worst problem that those we are helping. We would not be noticing the speck if we were not judging; we are assured that we will find a larger problem in ourselves.

Our actual ability to help one another depends on finding what works in us, not what we think should work in them. We are being taught mercy toward one another; we are being taught our need for grace: grace that can help.

In giving, we give with mercy, being careful to not try to fix others. In giving, we are also to give what is wanted, not what we think they should have.

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under your feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6

A bucket of pearls may be of great value to us, but to a hungry pig, it is of no value. They are still hungry.

As we give, we are to freely give, without assuming that giving gives us the right to "fix" them, or assuming that those who receive will appreciate our values.

Giving is letting go.