Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
When we give, we must do so willingly and cheerfully. Cheerful giving results in sowing bountifully and trusting in God’s promise of a bountiful harvest. We must remember that everything we have already belongs to the Lord. One of my favorite Timothy Keller quotes states, “A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God's.” As we cheerfully give, we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, and our giving becomes an act of worship. Giving is an opportunity to partner with God on His mission. When we give with a cheerful heart, we are doing what the Lord has called us to do, which is to lead people to know, love, and follow Christ through our act of generosity.
Paul uses an agricultural metaphor to explain the importance of giving. He talks about sowing seeds to reap a plentiful harvest. The phrase “reaping what you sow” often brings up a negative connotation in my mind. I think it’s because I have heard this phrase used synonymously with the word “revenge”. The way I have heard it used many times before is if someone has wronged me, then there is no need to worry because “they will reap what they sow”. In other words, they will get what is coming to them, but after reading this passage, I have a new and more positive perspective on that phrase. Paul is saying that we need to focus on our own giving. He is using the metaphor to show us that just as the farmer who sows sparingly will reap a meager harvest, the simple principle applies to our generosity. We limit our impact of showing God’s love and grace when we give sparingly. We do not get to fully participate in God’s work when we give grudgingly. However, if we give generously and cheerfully, then we, as well as the receivers, will be abundantly blessed.
After explaining to Corinthian Christians what it means to give with a generous heart, Paul reiterates that there is joy in giving. The giver is blessed just as much as the receiver. In chapter 9, verses 6-8, Paul tells the church, “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.”
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.