Nougat 16

Have you ordered food or goods and gotten a likkle tups more? We refer to that as brawta. Brawta was popularized to the extent that folklorists, Louise Bennett and Marjorie Wylie, often offered brawta in the entertainment programme ‘Ring Ding’. I find that when I read Today’s Holy Nougat, especially when I used to read out of context, I thought of God offering us brawta. How about you?

Luke 6:38 NIV

[38] 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.”

Brawta-Load

Just think … Give – and it returns

Pressed Down

Shaken Together

Running Over

That’s a lot of brawta. And when I read this Nougat in the context of tithes and offerings – oh, I was expecting lots of brawta on my giving. For the Bible tells me so. And it does.

But remember, the context suggests that the conversation is about how we treat people, not about what we place in the offering plate. Thus, when we give criticism and judgement, especially when it’s unfounded, imagine what our lot is when we receive criticism back – pressed down, shaken, and overflowing.

Not fun

In fact, it reminds me of reprisals in gang violence as well as between countries and ethnicities.

October 7 was a reprisal, and what continues to play out now is reprisal on the reprisal between the Jews and Palestinians.

Russia-Ukraine has involved reprisals and the conflict continues

The riots in the United Kingdom, particularly England and Northern Ireland result from reprisals against migrants for perceived contribution to economic instability, and in response to one person’s wrongs.

Ethiopia and Sudan experienced internal reprisals, causing the civil war to last longer

Insurgency in Chad, tantamount to reprisals gone bad.

Myanmar, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Philippines have also had their share of warring factions

And these are but a few of the more well-known conflicts occurring round about us.

The biblical narrative indicates that some conflicts (eg Cain murdering Abel, Absalom killing Amnon) also involved reprisal. In fact, those two examples actually involved other persons. Cain was in the wrong with *God*, but felt that Abel influenced the judgement. He returned that ‘judgement’ of his sacrifice with brawta – Abel was murdered.

Absalom judged Amnon for raping Tamar. Rightly so. Tamar however, was condemned to silence for life; and as the grief of his brother’s action festered, Absalom eventually took Amnon’s life.

Reprisal and brawta is that serious. It realizes exponential returns.

But,

Criticism and Judgement isn’t the only thing we can give.

When Jesus pushed for us to resist becoming, or succumbing to, a critical spirit, He desired us to adopt a more excellent way.

The way of Love.

Others may resent us for our loving ways – whether it’s turning the other cheek (not so sure how many of us practice that), offering help to others in distress, being that point of comfort, or correction – with, and in love. But just imagine when God is the one writing that good measure check with brawta! For God promised great return to us, using our measure (standard/scale).

So we get the opportunity to determine what kind of brawta we get.

Will it be brawta load on a critical spirit

or

brawta-load rewards for Love: (that which is True, Honorable, Kind/Gentle, Righteous, Pure, Lovely, Respectful/Self Controlled, Peaceful, Admirable, and of Good Reputation – all endorsed by Biblical Law)?

Again, I’m choosing Love.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ