- The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6 – Imagine speaking with a farmer near harvest season. He shows you his barn and you see bags of seed that hadn’t been planted yet. You ask him why he didn’t plant the seed earlier in the season when it was time to do so. His response? He was afraid that if he planted the seeds he wouldn’t have enough for next year. Yet do you know what that farmer won’t have come harvest? He won’t have anything to collect for he was too nervous to plant his seed. None of us would ever tell a farmer when he is spreading his seed that he is being wasteful. We know the result of such generous spreading of the seed will be a bountiful harvest. Can we then apply such knowledge to our giving unto the Lord? Of course we can, it’s just a matter of if we will. Scripture is making it overly clear, when we give generously to the Lord we will never find ourselves running dry. The promise isn’t if you give one dollar you’ll receive a million dollars from the Lord. The promise is when you give to the Lord, you can be assured you will never outgive the Lord. You can give money, time, and effort to the work of the Lord, but the Lord can provide blessings, miracles, joy, strength, provisions, healings, relationships, and so much more. While our world sure isn’t one that is glamorizing selfless giving, see the testimony of scripture and the lives within it that sacrificed everything for the Lord as were blessed beyond earthly comprehension. Maybe that blessing wasn’t tasted until Heaven, but if that was their story, their blessing there is far better than anything they would have received here on Earth. As then the Lord directs you to give, willingly give. Trust the process and trust His provision. You will never run dry when you pour out for the Lord. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3132
- He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10 – God promises to bless us in return for the giving that we do so that we are never without. In this passage though it opens up the bigger reason as to why God blesses us in return. It’s not just so that we can have again, it’s so that we can give again. The heart of God is that we pour out what we have so that He can refill us so we can pour out again. While this process is so beautiful because not only are those around us being filled, all it takes is for us to hold back on the pouring out part for all of it to stop. When we allow our selfishness to be a lid to the pouring out, we never experience the refreshment of a refill and never are able to help those around us be filled either. Rest on the promise that when you give (money, time, advice, etc.) God gives back. Just remember you being filled again means you have something to pour out again. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
- You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 – God gives to you so you can give. God reminds us today in this passage how clearly He is going to provide and take care of our needs. He says we’ll have all sufficiency in all things at all times. Yet why does He do that? First because He loves you and He’s a great Father that way. Our reason though we are seeing in this passage is that He gives to us so we can give and help those around us have what they need too. Remember that your giving to God is more than some requirement placed on you, it’s your chance the be the provision of God that someone has been deeply praying for. How cool is that? Not only are you obeying God and showing you love Him by giving, but you become someone’s answer to prayer. That’s why we can be a cheerful giver. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 727
- …for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 2 Corinthians 9:2 – Apparently the church Paul is writing to had promised to come together and offer a financial gift to help further the ministry of the gospel in other places. This church was more than willing, they were ready to come through on the promise they had made and Paul here is doing two things. One, reminding them to be faithful to what they had promised. Two, opening their eyes to how their readiness and zeal to support God’s work stirred up other churches all around to do the same. Sometimes I forgot about this aspect of why we as a church should serve and give. That our giving and our serving may stir up another church around us to do the same. How amazing would it be if we served and gave in such a way that the churches around us were challenged to do the same. They then were thriving, seeking to be all the more faithful to what God has called them to do because they saw our faithfulness and were encouraged. How beautiful would it be if every church in our city that was preaching the gospel was growing and loving our city deeply like they’re called to! So give and serve well, remain faithful to what you’ve promised to God, because your zeal may just encourage another to do the same. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2069
Daily DEVO 