Sunday 8th June, 2014.

SOWING TO REAP

 
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
(II Cor. 9:7-11).
 

Giving to God, His Servants, His works, and the poor is like sowing as a farmer does.  Every farmer who sowed seed on his farm is expecting a harvest of what he sowed.  God has planned that if the farmer should do his part in sowing, the soil will give a harvest of what he had sown.  This same principle applies to our giving to God and all that concerns Him. 
 
Giving to God and all that He asks from us is an opportunity of bumper harvest if we sow at the appropriate time.  A farmer who fails to sow at the planting season has lost the opportunity of reaping at the harvest time, so it is with giving to God; an opportunity to give is an opportunity to receive, a lost opportunity to give is also a lost opportunity to receive.  Moreover, when you are giving to God or His work you need to remember that what you are giving to Him is from what He had already given to you.  He owns what you have, you are just a keeper of your resources, either money, or talents, or gifts or time and so on.  The way you give to God and His work determines whether you are grateful or ungrateful to Him.  If you give sparingly, you will reap sparingly.  If you give bountifully, (what represents you), you will reap bountifully. If you give grudgingly, don’t expect any return from God, for God loves a cheerful giver.  If you give as a matter of necessity – that is giving by force, you may not expect any return from God.  But if you give what represents you – according to how God prospers you, you may expect a bumper harvest in return; God will not owe any cheerful giver.  You may ask, how do I give to God, whom I cannot see?  Your tithe is God’s portion of your gross income, you owe it to God.  Our offerings or contributions to the work of God, His servants, and the poor is indirectly to God: “He who has pity on the poor lends the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given” (Prov 19:17). 
 
Today is an opportunity for you to give generously to our International Convention, that August event in the Month of August.  What you sow today will be credited into your account of those who make the event a blessing to those who will attend, and your reward is not negotiable.  So, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).  These are direct words from our Lord Jesus Christ, obey it and be blessed!