February 13th - 2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. The law of the harvest is easy to understand: you reap what you sow. If you are miserly with your giving, you need to expect a deeply disappointing harvest. However, if you give generously, you can be sure of an amazing crop, probably far larger than anything you had imagined. Money is particularly important because, as Jesus observed, it is a rival god. You have to make a choice between serving God or money. You can’t serve both. Money makes huge boasts. It pretends that it can offer security, popularity, contentment and satisfaction, and it demands worship in return. In every generation, people have fallen for the god of money. However, money is not inherently bad. It is part of God’s creation and so is, in fact, inherently good. The problem is when it becomes the master and it drives our thinking and actions. The best way to prove that money is not our master is to learn how to give it away, and to do so generously. Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Everything else flows from our ability to give, so we all need to explore ways of giving generously. Paul spoke about the law of the harvest in this passage in the context of financial giving, but it is a principle which applies to every aspect of our giving. Take, for example, our caring, listening, supporting, teaching, leading and encouraging. If we did these things half-heartedly and reluctantly, we would be foolish to expect much of a result, but if we pour ourselves into these important activities with enthusiasm and joy, we can be sure of an amazing harvest. Question In what ways could you become more generous in your own giving? Prayer Lord God our Father, you have been incredibly generous to me and I thank you with all my heart. Teach me more of what it means to be increasingly generous in my own giving. Amen