THE TESTIONY OF GENEROSITY
THE TESTIMONY OF GENEROSITY
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
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 enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. —II Corinthians 9:6-15
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” How and what are you sowing? This principle is very clear that whatever it is we are sowing— if we sow sparingly, then we will have a sparse harvest. But, if we sow generously, then the harvest will be plentiful. Look at your life. What are you sowing and reaping? What is your seed and what is your harvest or lack of harvest? Do you need to change what you are sowing or how much you are sowing?
In the context of the passage above it is talking about sowing sparingly or generously with our finances or I should say the finances our Lord has given us to be stewards/managers of. So, let us focus on that primarily today. Look at your finances— someone has once said, “Show me your checkbook and I will know what is important to you.” Or… we could look at your budget written out and it will be known what is important to you.
How does generosity affect others? Well from the passage we glean a number of ways. Generosity:
- Changes our heart focus (Where your treasure is there your heart is also (Matthew 6:21)
- Helps us give with the right motivation/attitude
- Helps us plan our giving
- Brings joy to our life
- Brings God’s provision to be more generous
- Will bring and enlarge an eternal harvest of righteousness
- Will bring more occasions to give
- Will result in many expressions of thanksgiving to God
- Will prove our obedience to God
- Will prove our confession to the gospel of Christ
- Will cause other to pray for us because of God’s grace given us
- Brings thanks for this indescribable gift
Wow… what kind of harvest will we bring? Sparse or plentiful? It depends on what we are sowing and this is not just in their area of finances. It can be applied to time, serving our Lord, His people and the lost…
Budgets of our life show what truly is important to us!
Dear Father, please help me focus on what is truly important. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Dear Son and my Lord Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS1ndKgU36I