Note: This is a updated post from July of last year (previous post here). We did not put this one up with minimal updates out of laziness but because we felt that message needed to be repeated - So please do not send us emails telling us that you have read this one before.
2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Yes I know that you have read, heard about, or studied the above scriptures one hundred times or more in your life, so I am not going to insult you and review things that you already know. Recently however, I came back across 2 Corinthians 9 and was reminded of some things that had moved from the front of my mind to the back, so I thought I would see if what God reminded me of may be some use too you as well. The sum of what God reminded me of was that many times our walk with God is not failing because of what we do not know, but because we are failing to do what we already know is right. Simply, but unfortunately, that is true for me at times.
Of course the overall lesson in the above scripture is that people that sow generously, not out of guilt or perceived obligation but out of a true burden in their heart, will be rewarded with a large amount of grace. The real lesson to learn though is not about the heart of the giver though, it is about the nature of God.
Sure the giver, or sower, is giving out of the processions / wealth / time / abilities, but the real secret is the source of their supply, and how that source is constantly replenished and replaced. Obviously it requires faith to sow, but the promise found in second Corinthians chapter nine is that once a believer begins giving (this does not just mean financially) that God will not just bless that person, the sower, with grace, but will also replenish the sower's supply, and provide a means for the sower to continue their work in the future. This allows the sower to both be blessed and to be used in the future This also allows God to be acknowledged as both the source of the current gifts, and of the future ones as well. This allows both the sower and the one receiving the fruit of the sowers work / labor to be blessed, and to be thankful to God. God's promise is not to supply the sower with just enough to continue at the same level of sowing, but to provide the ability where greater work can both continue and be possible in the future.
The key to that promise is found at the end of verse 8 - "so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work " and also in verse 10 and 11- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." - . God is promising all that sow (i.e - give, sacrifice and labor) for Him will have all they need to complete all the work for which they are called. That means if a person gives a lot, their stock will be replenished greatly where they will always have a supply to continue to give. In contrast that also means a person that is slow or hesitant to give they will only have a small amount replenished as their supply is not being depleted as rapidly or as drastically. This lack of sowing produces only limited opportunities for both the worker to be blessed and for God to be honored.
Now let's us be sure that we understand that sowing may not be the redistribution of a sowers finances, it can be the giving of goods from our surplus or excess, giving of our time to help others, or even the giving of advice and guidance to those that are in need via teaching and ministry. Remember though to sow requires more sacrifice. If the sowing does not hurt a bit then you are probably not giving that much. A life full of sowing is not comprised of a life of ease and inaction, it is composed of a life of dolling out a combination of your finances, energy, time, commitments, priorities, and lifestyle to the things and people for which you are called. Sowing could even possibly mean giving your very life for those that are in need.
The wonderful thing is God has more then enough to completely resupply and re-equip you as you give. His supplies are endless, and He will not run low or out of what you or I need. His call is for us to give where He can both reward us via grace and mercy, and where He receives the glory for both the work done in His name, and the work He has done in the past for all of creation. Since a short coming of supplies would reflect badly on Him, He will never allow His people to be lacking in supplies, abilities, and equipment. He is not about to allow His name to be tarnished or His people to suffer because of a lack of seed (i.e. supplies, funds, etc)
The life of a sower is one of consistent, and most likely constant, sacrifice and work. If you are only sowing / giving when it is easy and convenient then you are really not sowing, you are merely acting like a sower at times. It is no different then a actor playing a famous person on stage, in a movie, or on TV, they do not become that person, they merely mirror the actions, words, and activities of that person. A person that sows only when it is convenient, easy, or when they feel guilty is not giving out of a heart call, but out of a desire to look like a sower. Like all things of God the best way to judge the heart of the individual is to view the fruit their life is producing. If the fruit is sparse then they are not a generous sower.
Remember God may reward you in ways that you do not expected. You may give financially, but be rewarded emotionally. God's promise is not a dollar for a dollar, or a minute longer in life for every minute you serve. God's promise is that you will always be blessed and be able to give if you have a heart of a sower. If you choose not to sow generously you will not be kicked out of heaven, or left by God, you will simply not be blessed in the same ways that a sower is.
I do not write this to accuse you of being a sparse sower. My main purpose is to remind you to continue sowing even when the fruit is not blooming from your work. God will not let you run out of seed, nor will He allow all the seed to be wasted. Some seed may fall on the hard ground, but some will fall in the fallowed ground and grow to health. Stay strong, be courageous, and continue your work.
