June 26, 2 Corinthians 9
During the year in which I wrote this book, many farmers across our region lost their crops due to severe drought. In our own yard, many of our young shrubs and trees died despite our efforts to water them. One lone survivor of the drought in our back yard was a stalk of sunflowers, which grew in a large flower pot where my wife thought she had planted zinnias. (No zinnias ever appeared.) This tall green stalk sprouted from a single seed and produced flowers, each bearing hundreds of seeds. I’m no botanist or gardener, but I think I can have lots of sunflowers next year by planting those seeds. I will save them, plant them, and when I’m looking at a sea of sunflowers, I’ll remember the law of sowing and reaping.
Paul cited the law of sowing and reaping to encourage the Corinthians to be generous and keep their year-old promise to give. He had used them as an example to motivate others; now it was time for them to give. It’s good to have enthusiasm, and it’s great to have a plan. But emotions and preparations must become actions for benefits to be realized.
The old-as-the-world law of sowing and reaping applies to more fields than farming. It helps us see giving as an investment, not a tax or expense. A farmer can sabotage his crop by stingy sowing or increase the yield by generous sowing. Just so our efforts are limited or enhanced by how much we’re willing to put into a project. This explains many situations of life. It explains why families fall apart when all the energy and time is invested in work or other pursuits instead of making family a priority. It also explains why some people complain that they never get anything out of Bible study or worship. The poor yield may indicate a paltry investment of time and effort.
Generous giving produces great benefits. The giver is enriched by the experience. Paul wanted the Corinthians to be generous so they would learn that God (who gave them what they had to begin with) could be trusted to give them more. The recipients are blessed, too, as needs are met. And God gets more praise and thanksgiving from the chain-reaction of positive results.
Cheerful giving testifies to the lordship of Christ and the work of grace in our lives. When we trust what the Lord says and give liberally, we’re controlled by his will, not our own selfishness. When we’re conscious of how much God has given us by his grace, we’ll rejoice in the opportunity to imitate his generosity. All our gifts are put into perspective when compared to God’s inexpressible gift to us in Christ.
Do you want to be enthusiastic and faithful about your giving? Read this encouragement from Paul again and again. If we want the blessings of the harvest, we must be willing to plant the seeds.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—June 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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