Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (WEB)
Reaping and sowing is a Christian principle that cannot be ignored. It is simple math.
It is about how I will sow my gifts in service to building God’s Kingdom. Will I use the gifts God has given me to amass treasure here on earth or will I sow it into ministry, even ministry around the world. Jesus spoke about ‘talents’ (Matthew 25). He was very clear that if I am given from God then I am to do in the Kingdom, not ‘bury’ a gift for my own pleasure.
It is about how I will sow in others. Will I sow good fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Or will it be strife, bitterness, division, jealousy, rage, and revenge? Do I realize that what I sow – so shall I reap?
It is about my heart. I admit that the ‘cheerful giver’ part may take me a bit of time and effort to arrive at that place. But God is faithful to give whatever I need. There are times that I want justice. I want what is fair. My fellow Believers, that is God’s job. That is for God to determine the judgment. I must leave judgment in His hands or I will again sow in misery and reap the same.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing to many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the 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 ha given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:12-14 (NIV)
And here is the bonus – pleasing God. By the choices I make in sowing, thanksgiving is given to God. It is reaped as people see Him instead of me. It is easy to allow others to pull me into stingy sowing and selfish reaping. When I step in faith allowing God’s Spirit to flow abundantly through me, blessing others even when they do not deserve it (do I?), the harvest becomes abundant and surpasses anything that I could have attempted to make for myself.
Sowing and Reaping: A true Christian Principle that cannot be ignored!
