Dec 7 - Matthew 7:1-2

Jesus said,

Do not judge, so that

you may not be judged.

For with the judgment you

make you will be judged,

and the measure you give

will be the measure you get.

Matthew 7:1-2

 

Do you know what the worst punishment is?

 

Often, it’s getting back what we've been giving out.

 

·         We gossip, but we don’t like to be gossiped about.

·         We bully, but we don’t like being bullied ourselves.

·         We lie, but we hate when people deceive us.

 

The world’s worst punishment is, often and indeed, getting back what we've been giving out. As Jesus said – in the context of recompense – “the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

 

Now, we could probably focus on this in eternal terms. After all, Jesus often did, saying things like, “forgive us our sins to the same degree as we forgive those who trespass against us” … and “with the judgment you make you will be judged.” Yes, we could surely focus this in an eternal way.

 

But let’s just focus temporally – right here and right now.

 

·         Why do people bully? Because they’re either angry or insecure. Getting a surly comeuppance will either reinforce that our world is cruel (further hardening our soul) or will knock us down a few pegs (which will further feed that deepening insecurity).

·         Why do people gossip? Same reasons. It’s cruelty … or more often insecurity. We make ourselves feel bigger by making others appear smaller. It’s a painful pill for the insecure gossip to have people gossip about them, tearing their insecurity down even farther. (And if it’s for callous cruelness that a person gossips, every false witness causes them to be less and less human.)

·         And why do people lie? Most of the time, it’s because of fear and shame. We can’t openly approach others (as Scripture recommends in Genesis 2) “naked and unashamed,” so we cover our deceit and shame with half-truths and lies. (The other half of the time that we lie it’s because of rebelliousness, and every act of rebellion isolates us further from those who love us most.)

 

Those are just three examples. But one reason we give (and then get back) a harsh measure is because we’re fearful, ashamed, and insecure, and what we reap (get back) usually makes us feel more isolated and insecure. The second reason we give (and then get back) a harsh measure is because we’re simply cruel and rebellious, but the satisfaction we hope to reap from being selfish just leaves us more and more hard and empty. Indeed, “the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

 

But what happens if we sow love and give encouragement? What happens when instead of being driven by insecurity, we see us as God sees us (as loved, forgiven, adopted, and redeemed), and learn to see others as valuable too? What happens when our human weakness is replaced with God’s strength, and our fears are replaced with God’s assurance? What happens when arrogance gives way to humility and our ingratitude is replaced by a generous spirit?

 

What happens?

 

Good news: “the measure you give will be the measure you get.”

 

Those who love and encourage, get back more love, more encouragement, surer worth, hope instead of fears, a grateful heart, and greater peace.

 

What are you sowing?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who keeps

sowing the Word.

(And what is the measure

I’m getting back? Greater

truth, hope, and peace.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We gossip, but gossiping is a form of pridefulness, and we don't like to be gossiped about, when someone is challenging our sense of superiority. 

We bully, but bullying usually comes from an insecurity, and when we’re bullied back, someone is making us feel smaller … which is what we were trying to avoid in the first place.

 

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