Monday, May 19, 2025

           In 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul wrote, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  He was teaching us that there is a relationship between sowing and reaping.  Anyone who has ever gardened or farmed knows this to be true.  If you sow only a few seeds, the harvest will likely be quite meager.  But someone who sows generously will reap a great and even overflowing harvest.  And the Bible plainly teaches in Galatians 6:7 that a man reaps what he sows.  While applying to farming, the lesson Paul was teaching has more to do with life and how we choose to use the days that God has given to us.
            In a word, Paul was instructing us to live generously.  Be generous in every way imaginable.  This admonition has to do with giving, yes, but it is even broader than that.  Be generous with your praise of the Lord.  Be generous with giving thanks.  Be generous in your service.  Be generous in your kindness.  Be generous in your patience.  Love generously.  There are plenty of possible practical applications that we can make.  Paul encourages us to live a generous life.  If you were looking for a theme for your life, living generously would be a good motto to adapt. Sow freely, widely and broadly would be another worthy theme. 
            When we read the Bible, we find that God is often known by many names or descriptions.  Father, friend, shepherd, rock, redeemer to name only a few.  But God is also known as a Giver.  He is the first and greatest Giver because He was in the beginning.  He gave us life—recall the creation story where God created all forms of life including humanity.  He gave His Son to save us.  He gave us His Word so we could know Him and walk with Him in faith and trust.  He gave us His Holy Spirit to abide with us as we await the return of Christ.  God is, unmistakably, a Giver.  And no one can ever out-give the Lord.
            God calls us to be givers too.  And to give of ourselves generously.  We give as God has given to us—never sparingly and never grudgingly.  We give from what God has already provided to us.  We never have to worry about running short or running out if living generously is our ambition.  God will supply.  Paul wrote, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11).  When we live in God’s ways, we will know the joys of plenty and abundance.  Shortages are never God’s way of doing things.  We often hold on to what we have out of fear of running out or running short. 
            But when we see that we give from what God has already supplied or will supply, we can live generously.  We can forgive freely because God in Christ has forgiven us.  We can love sacrificially because God has loved us at the cost of His Son.  We can serve generously because we know that God will provide the time, resources and motivations that we need to serve Him.  We can share the gospel freely because it never runs short of power to save and grace to forgive.   Today, we can ask God to help us live generously—across the board and in every way imaginable. We can sow generously and reap a joy-filled life in return.  Have a great Monday!