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With What Measure

by Tom Wacaster

Jesus said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38). Giving is not restricted to monetary giving. Often time spent with another is of far greater value than any money we might give them. With that in mind, reflect upon some lessons to be learned from this passage.

First, we cannot out give God. We give, and God sees to it we are blessed in return. But when God gives back unto us it is "pressed down, shaken together, running over." When you get a box of cereal at the grocery store the manufacturer will inform you that "some settling of contents may have occurred." Sure enough, you open the box and it has settled to a significant level below what we might consider to be full. That is shaken down, but it is not running over. God will fill your cup till it runs over, and that AFTER it has been shaken together. No, my friend, you cannot out give God.

Second, the things men give to us are actually provided by God. The atheist, agnostic, skeptic, and materialist would have you believe that any material possessions you might obtain in this life are due to your own hard work, ingenuity, or just plain luck. But James tells us that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). God may use others as instruments in His bestowal of gracious blessing unto you, but it is God Who gives nonetheless.

Third, God will give to us according to what measure we use to give unto others. The story was told of a baker who lived in a village not far removed from Quebec. He regularly bought his butter from a neighboring farmer. One day he became suspicious that the farmer was not measuring the butter accurately, and that his regular purchase of one pound of butter was not quite one pound. So he decided to investigate. For several days he weighed the butter and discovered that the rolls of butter the farmer brought were short the designated amount. This angered the baker so that he took the farmer before the judge. The judge asked the farmer, "Do you have weights by which you measure the butter you sell to the baker?" The farmer answered, "No, sir." The judge then asked, "How then do you manage to weigh

the butter that you sell to the baker?" The farmer answered: "That's easily explained, Your Honor. When the baker began buying his butter from me, I thought I'd get my bread from him. It is the one pound loaf which he brings me that I've been using as a weight for the butter I sell him."

Now, lets apply this to our plans and goals for this new year. Why not determine that you will give more, even sacrificially, during this new year. You have 360 days left. Will you give of your time to the Lord this year? Why not set aside some time to better prepare yourself to serve in the Kingdom? Why not set aside one extra night a week to make visits; encourage the fainthearted; teach the lost? Why not spend less time in front of the TV, and more time reading and studying? Why not cut back on the times you eat out each week or each month and give more unto the Lord? Why not determine that you will sacrifice a hunting trip, or a week's vacation to travel to Mexico, Russia, or attend some lectureship? You see, God's promise is applicable in so many areas. And remember this, "With what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again."

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Evaluating Your Commitment - Part I

by Kevin D. Beard

Jesus demands commitment. He said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). He used the word "hate" not to refer to literal hatred, but to emphasize the extent of our love for Him. Notice that if one does not possess such a love for Him, he cannot be Jesus' follower. Either Jesus comes first in our lives, or we cannot have anything to do with Him. Because of this, it is vitally important for us to evaluate our commitment to Him. If it is not what it should be, we must change what we need to change. Maybe the following quiz can help you assess your commitment to the Lord.

Prayer

1. How often do you pray?

__ Several times throughout the day.

__ Before meals.

__ Hardly ever.

2. When are you most likely to pray?

__ In good times and bad; it doesn't matter.

__ When things are going bad.

__ I'm not very likely to pray.

3. When you pray, how would you classify your prayer?

__ I pray for myself, others, and a wide range

things.

__ I mostly pray for myself.

__ I don't usually pray.

Bible Study

1. How often do you read the Bible?

__ Every day.

__ Whenever I can remember to.

__ Seldom, if ever.

2. How often do you study the Bible?

__ Several times a week to every day.

__ Seldom.

__ Never.

3. Which of these best describes your reason for reading and studying the Bible?

__ Because I want to learn all I can about

God's will.

__ Because I feel guilty if I don't.

__ I don't read or study the Bible.

Giving

1. How often do you give?

__ Every week.

__ Every few weeks.

__ Seldom, if ever.

2. How do you decide how much to give?

__ I set aside a generous amount before I do

anything else.

__ I give whatever I happen to have on hand.

__ I don't give.

3. Why do you give?

__ Because I love the Lord and appreciate all

He's done for me.

__ Because I have to.

__ I don't give.

The remainder of this article/evaluation will be continued next week. . . .

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Family News and Notes

Ladies Bible Class will resume at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 07, 2003. All ladies are encouraged to attend.

Reminder today is the 1st Sunday of a new month. If you wish to contribute to the Building Fund you may do so today.

Men, don't forget the Men's Business Meeting following services next Sunday evening.

We would like to have a list of all the e-mail addresses for those in our congregation who have a computer and are on-line with an e-mail address. If you have not already done so, will you please write YOUR e-mail address on the back side of your attendance card. Thanks.

On Sunday nite, December 22nd, Sid Charlton made acknowledgement of things amiss in his life and was restored to the Lord.

Gene Campbell and William Embree have both been ill at home suffering from the flu or flu-like symptoms. They hope to be present for services today.

Howard Horton is still not doing well.

Dick Justiss has been moved to IHS Nursing Home. He is in Room 156 on "A" hall.

Billy Carter is still in UT Medical Center in Tyler but is doing much better. He hopes to come home soon.

Vernon Garrett had his eye surgery Thursday morning in Dallas and it is understood that the surgery went fine. He was scheduled to return home last Friday afternoon.

Suzanne Charlton had surgery on her leg last Tuesday. She had a couple of veins replaced in her leg. She has been in a lot of pain and was expected to come home this weekend.

Narci Cooper is still in Titus Regional Medical Center following her surgery last Monday.

Meryl Riley is scheduled to go to Dallas on the 23rd of January for tests to determine proper treatment for her tumor.

Justin Barker will have an MRI here at Titus Regional Medical Center Monday and then is scheduled to see a neurologist on Tuesday for tests to determine proper treatment for problems he is having with his nervous system.

R.C. Grissom has been suffering from a pinched nerve and other medical problems. He is feeling a little better.

Billy Glover (son of Mary Glover and Jacques Glover's dad) has been in Titus Regional Medical Center but was transferred to Tyler Thursday. He has been suffering from heart problems.