Generously

Reading:  2 Corinthians 9; Psalm 27

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:6–8 NLT)

Every farmer knows that without seed planting there will be no harvest at the end of the growing season! Farmers invest heavily in preparing the soil to receive the seed, they invest in fertilizing and enriching the soil so that the seed will grow in the most favorable circumstances. Farmers water the seed so it will grow and flourish and then, in season, they harvest a bountiful crop!

But if they didn’t spend liberally to purchase the very best seed, if they didn’t risk all that expense by putting the seed in the ground where it disappears and they have no control over the life process in the seed, if they didn’t trust God’s amazing life cycle of seedtime, growth, and reproduction, there would never ever be a harvest!

Giving to the needs of others is planting seed for a harvest of blessing. Give more, plant more seed, receive more, reap a greater harvest. This is a law of nature and a principle of God’s Kingdom!

Don’t be pressured or manipulated by threat or emotional intensity into giving in a way that doesn’t come from your heart. When you give, give because you are willing, give what you are able, and don’t resent the cost of giving. When you give, release your seed to the soil of God’s Kingdom and trust the process to produce multiplied blessing!

Prayer:

Father, It seems as if I need to be reminded over and over again of the divine process you have initiated of planting seed and reaping a harvest, of trusting the good soil and the life of the seed to produce, and of giving to the needs of others and receiving the provision I need from your hand. Thanks for these words from Paul that speak as truly and clearly to me today as they did to the believers in Corinth almost 2000 years ago! I believe your Word, I trust your plan, I give in faith! Amen!