How Do You Measure Up?

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.” (Luke 6:37–38, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We usually associate this with “give, and it will be given to you.” And rightfully so. But let’s not lose sight of the other items that are listed in these two verses. Judging, condemning, and forgiving (or lack thereof).

We should be careful how we “measure” things. The old carpenter’s adage, “measure twice, cut once” would be a good thing to remember before we judge, condemn or withhold forgiveness. Because once you “cut,” the time for measuring is irreparably lost. One cannot “uncut.” We may one day be asking forgiveness from the very ones we refused to forgive, receiving judgment and condemnation instead. Wishing that unlike us, they had measured twice before cutting.

From my favorite work of fiction:

Frodo — “It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill Gollum when he had the chance.”
Gandalf — “Pity? It’s pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

My Advice – Don’t be hasty in cutting your “pound of flesh.” You will likely cut too deep or too wide, and it’s hard to stop the bleeding once it starts. For rarely are we wise enough to see all ends (or even the beginnings).