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SOWING AND REAPING

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
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. 

God loves a cheerful giver. The Greek word for ‘cheerful’ actually means ‘hilarious’. God loves someone who gives hilariously! While man looks on the outward appearance, our heavenly Father sees our hearts. He knows if we are giving out of guilt or pressure and He doesn’t want us to give for those reasons. He loves it when we freely give what was freely given to us, simply because we love giving. 

May God set us free from giving for the wrong reasons so that when we give, we give for all of the right reasons. May we see the truth that every gift that we give is a seed. When a farmer sows a seed, he expects an increase of 30, 60 or 100 times his investment. 

When we begin to see all that we have as our seed, then of course we will give hilariously knowing that each seed will be multiplied many times. Whether our seed is our finances, our time, our possessions or our gifts, may we all see that the Kingdom of God is not about buying and selling, but about sowing and reaping. May each one of us receive a harvest beyond our wildest expectations as we learn to give hilariously.

Matthew 13:8
Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. 
 
Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s purposes for adversity. In the midst of a personal tragedy, the Lord’s sovereignty may seem like a harsh, uncaring theology. But the truth is, God works all things together for the believer’s good (Romans 8:28).

 

David’s writings illustrate the importance of trusting in God’s control of all things—no matter how difficult the situation. When he was running for his life from King Saul, the Lord repeatedly spared him and eventually made him king of Israel. And when David’s son died in an attempt to take the throne, God was the king’s support and comfort. Through every affliction, the Lord provided protection and guidance each step of the way. These experiences taught David to trust wholeheartedly in the Lord’s control and goodness.

God exercises perfect control over every event in your life as well—even situations that are difficult and make no sense to you at the time. When you’re going through such things, the psalmists’ writings can bring great comfort. As you read, focus on what each passage reveals about the Lord’s character and faithfulness. When you see the circumstances of your life through that lens, you’ll find great comfort in God’s sovereignty.

Bible References

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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