Metronome: The Measure Regulator Spiritual Law

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
-Matt. 7:2, Mark 4:24, Luke 6:38

Metronome: from Greek metron 'measure' + nomos 'law'


There is a spiritual metronome in your life that you set and it affects you.  If you are charitable, you will receive charitableness back.  If you tolerant, you will receive tolerance.  If you are a lover, you will receive love.  That is the spiritual law of the metronome.  You set the measure of how you are going to treat others and it comes back at you.

"For in the same way you judge others", says Jesus, clarifying his statement, "do not judge".  Jesus is saying not to condemn, not to be uncharitable.  Jesus is not saying that we are not to discern and evaluate right and wrong, and call out destructive, dangerous or injurious behavior.

In community, when we call out someone's sin, someone's destructive, selfish, injurious to others, or dangerous behavior; and that person says, "don't judge me"; they are wrong.  Jesus, or any good rabbi, would say, "yes, you have every right to call them out on wrong behavior, or lies, or cheating." That is not blocked by Jesus statement to not judge and is actually a loving thing, calling for the sinner to repent and trying to repair the ripped fabric of the community.

When Jesus says, "for in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you", he is saying, "be charitable", "be kind", "be generous", and "be tolerant".  Wrong is wrong, like when people hurt other people,  But, when people are just different, or bump you, or forget something; be gracious and charitable.

Christians are supposed to be known for their love for each other.  Love covers.  You choose how charitable you will be when other people step on toes or disappoint.  Will you measure out grace, be charitable, tolerant, and generous?  If so, that will come back to you, says Jesus.

There is a saying that, "if life gives you lemons, make lemonade".  You make lemonade by adding sugar.  The lover, the forgiver, the gracious one; adds the sugar of graciousness, charitableness, tolerance, and forgiveness to every small and large bump or offense from others and sweetens their life and the lives of those around them.

The harsh person gives lemons back, when given lemons; and what do they get?  A sour life.  Imagine a mirror that comes up in front of you each time a frustration from another person, a small or large offense, or a disappointment comes your way.  What you put out comes back to you.  It's that simple.

"What you get will be determined by what you give."

Jesus says, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more."  You get to measure your generosity, your time with God, your commitment to God; and by that measure, you will get back.  Your giving results in your getting.  If you are not getting much, it is because you are not giving much.  It is that simple.  Change your measure and what you get will increase.  It is up to you.

If you want something you have to give it.  Need friends?  Be a friend.  Need money?  Give money.  Need love?  Give love.  It goes on and on.

The normal Christian life, that few of us walk in, is a life of overflowing generosity.  Another secret of the kingdom is that what you give, you get back more of than what you gave, so that your cup runs over.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The rub is when we think we don't have something to give, whether is is time, money, love, prayer, or any kind of helps.  When we give, when it is a little bit uncomfortable, even sacrificial; and we give anyway, with joy from Jesus, something happens.  God does something.  Something comes back to us.  It is a principle of the kingdom of God.

The part about, "with joy from Jesus", means that when we feel scared, uncomfortable, even selfish; we can die to self, and live to Christ.  We can turn to Jesus in our hearts, doing a "what Jesus would do".  It is as simple as that.  Our flesh says, "I'm too tired", "I don't have extra money", or "I don't have time".  But if we give out of our poverty, there is a reward.  We do not just give to get, but we give to get to give to get, to give.  Get it?  It is the generous lifestyle

If you start living this way, the word will get out that you are the one to come to for prayer, money, counseling, friendship, and a host of other things.  The phone rings, people constantly might approach you.  What then?  You will be in Jesus' dilemma of needing rest and needing to get away.  You and Jesus will rest together and you will get away together, but persistent people will hunt for you, because you are so generous.  Jesus in you will give to then, and then you will get some more rest.