For Good Measure

I read a snarky comment on Facebook the other day. It said, "I love when I spend $2.98 for a bag of air and they include a couple of potato chips."

Funny, right?

How about when you buy that box of fund raising candy and open it to find 6 small pieces. And have you noticed that some food products containers have high domes in the bottom? This is so that the container looks the same but you are really getting less product.

I hate to feel cheated when I am buying something. I want my money's worth. 

Remember the Baker's dozen? That was when you got 13 for the price of a dozen. I liked that idea. 

And when was the last time your sub or burger was made to look like the picture?

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37, 38 ESV)

I like this scripture, how it talks about measurements. Picture it, filling a cup then banging on the bottom so the contents settle. You can add some more, now shake it a bit and put a little more into the cup. Fill it up, heap it up, let some spill over. Isn't that a cupful that you would like to receive?

What is if was a toxic substance? How much would you want?

The scripture says, by the yardstick that you hold others up against, expect to be held against the same stick. In other words, if you are harsh, expect to be treated harshly. If you are rude, expect to be treated rudely. If you are disrespectful, do not expect to be respected. If you are mean, you will get mean. If you are loud, people will shout at you. 

If you are nice, you will get nicely treated. If you are respectful, you will be respected. If you are honest, people will be honest with you. If you treat people with a lack of compassion, you shouldn't expect to be treated with compassion. If you are indifferent to others, they won't care about you.

Do you get it? What goes around comes around. What you reap you will sow. 

How do you want to be treated? How do you measure other people's faults and sins? How do you measure other people's good traits? 

How do you want people to respond to you?