There once was a monkey who saw a nut inside a jar. So he reached in and grabbed the nut and tried to pull his hand out. His fist made it so his hand was stuck in the jar. Rather than release the nut he was holding, he gripped tighter and tighter, continually trying to pull his hand out. Eventually, the monkey died of starvation—refusing to let go of his prize despite costing him his life.
Sometimes we’re like the little monkey. We have a hard time letting go. That’s why God instructs us to be generous. When we give, we are released from our greed, opening up our hands to receive the abundance of God.
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
Luke 6.38