We are Fellow Workers

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.  Now there is a “Kingdom Principle”! I’m not a theologian but a “Kingdom Principle” to me is one that God has clearly spelled out throughout His Word and it is a “if this — then that” kind of statement.

So the first question is:  How much am I sowing? Yes, that starts with tithing and being faithful to that tithe.  It is being faithful to the tithe while at the same time being faithful to our responsibilities like rent/mortgage etc.  It is faith that more than occasionally defies logic and moves into God’s principle of reaping and sowing.  Am I also sowing into other people?  Financially but also in my time.  Am I sowing into fellowship and discipleship?  If I am seeking to live a life serving God, keeping the Sabbath, studying God’s Word, and spending time in daily prayer, then I believe I should be discipling!  “Oh, but Jody, I’m not a pastor or a Sunday School teacher or leader!”  Hogwash! That’s the enemy trying to deceive you into thinking that you are the one who is going to be doing all the discipling!!!  God is the One who disciples through His Holy Spirit! I am just the messenger!  Sometimes I am the messenger and the receiver!!!  There is someone out there that God wants you to disciple — a friend, a grandchild, — someone!  Ask Him and then — be obedient!!

The second question is: Am I reaping what I have sown? Sometimes that is not a pretty picture!  If you are reaping weeds, well, it’s time to start sowing some good fruit and flowers, isn’t it?  “Oh, great!  I’ve been sowing into _____ and into ____ church and now I can sit back and just reap the rewards!”  Uh…no. There is no retirement in this world. I am working along side of Jesus. He said that He was here to glorify the Father. There is the primary fruit of what I sow. Am I sowing seeds that will glorify the Father? If I am an encourager or a teacher, it’s about building up the Body so that more people see God in everything.

Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.     1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (WEB)