Sep12 Written by:Nathan Williams
Friday, September 12, 2008
God set up certain principles in this world which will always be true. "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully," Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 9:6. This is the "reap what you sow" principle. It is true in the negative (sow bad seed, reap a bad crop) and in the positive (sow good seed, reap a good crop). It applies to our discussion on giving.
If we give liberally and with a generous heart, we can expect good things.
1. We will have an abundance for every good deed (9:8). If we are truly loving our neighbor and loving God in our giving, God has promised to make sure we have a sufficient amount to give.
2. God will supply and multiply our seed for sowing (9:10a). I believe this refers to physical blessing. We should never give IN ORDER that we might receive back, but if we give righteously, we WILL receive back. God blesses the righteous hearts.
3. God will increase the harvest of our righteousness (9:10b). This is our spiritual reward. We are "adding jewels to our crown," as we sometimes say allegorically.
4. Our giving will produce Thanksgiving and Praise toward God (9:11-14). This should be the outcome of ever righteous act. Thanksgiving comes on different levels. Those of you who are helping suffering Christians with your money (Zimbabwe brethren, perhaps?), you know this already. You are thankful because you realize you have been so blessed to be able to help these brethren. They are thankful because loving brethren are supplying their daily necessities. They thank God for you. You thank God for the blessings which have come into sharper focus. All of us praise God for creating such a wonderful arrangement!
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).
Nathan
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