If you have a single candy bar to share among two or more children you’d better have a ruler. If the candy bar is a Hershey Bar (always a fine choice) you could simply divide the number of rectangles by the number of children. But if you have a Snickers or a Milky Way you’ll have to take an accurate measurement and make an exact cut – or you’ll never hear the end of how Johnny’s part was bigger (Heaven help you if you have to split an Almond Joy three ways).  In fact precise measurements may never convince little sister that she has somehow been cheated by a whole millimeter or more. This perceived favoritism for Johnny on your part may scar little sister’s psyche for the rest of her life. One day, as your will is read, and Johnny is found to have been given the silver salver that great grandma used to use to receive calling cards, little sister (now a grandmother herself) will tear up from the confirmation that you always did love Johnny best. So there is a lot at stake.

There is a New Testament word for this kind of sharing.  The word merizo means “to precisely divide.”  It is the word the one brother uses to demand that Jesus see to it he gets his share of the inheritance (Luke12.13), and the word Jesus uses to describe how the apostles will share the Passover wine (Luke 22.17). It describes tithing (Hebrews 7.2), and the way God has precisely handed out special gifts (Romans 12.3, I Corinthians 7.17).  I am happy to leave the “precisely dividing” to God. Thinking about being responsible for it myself gives me nightmares of parsimony, unintentioned slights, disappointment, and failure. I feel that this kind of precise parceling should be left to Divine Perfection – we humans can only approximate.

Thankfully there is a second New Testament word for sharing.  Koinoneo means “to share from abundance.” In its various forms Koinoneo can be translated “fellowship” (I John 1.3), “communication” (Philippians 4.15), and the communion service (I Corinthians 10.16). But basically it describes taking a big bowl of popcorn to two children and telling them to share it. Any child who would insist upon adding up the number of puffed kernels, and then dividing them by two, would (and should) be referred for intense counseling – perhaps even intense punishment. That’s not the way you share a big bowl of popcorn. You just dive in. There are so many things, as Christians, we share from abundance. There’s plenty enough and more to go around – things like: The Blessings of God’s Promises (II Peter 1.4); Glory (I Peter 5.1); Suffering (I Peter 4.13); the Saving Blood of Christ (I John 1.7) and Joy (I John 1.1-4).

The measure of blessings we receive is not determined by the number of people to be blessed – because the amount we share is as infinite as the God Who blesses us. WE determine the measure of blessings we receive by our willingness to share.

Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over they will pour into your lap. For by your measure it will be measured to you again. (Luke 6.38)

These are the words of the Lord. They remind us that good brothers and sisters are eager to share, or they will not continue to be so richly blessed. When we are asked to share, we are asked to share a big bowl of popcorn. We are NOT asked to divide a Butterfinger five ways (just try it). This is why those unwilling to share the blessings God so richly bestows receive such severe punishment (Luke 12.13-21).

So let us recognize what each of us has in abundance – and then let us find a way to share it. Otherwise it will be lost.  Years ago in the Rome, Ohio Church of Christ library there was a sign that read: All I have is what I give away. What I keep I lose forever.

Amen.