August 10, 2010
2 Corinthians 9
Pastor Jeff Allen
When I was younger, I was jealous of my older brother. We didn’t grow up with much, and we both worked hard for what we had. However, he often found himself in situations where his money was multiplied dramatically. It took me several years to figure out that God was blessing him because he generously blessed others. He has always done that, and God continues to honor his generosity by providing for him abundantly.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul wrote about giving, with two specific principles mentioned in verses 5 and 6:
- Willful giving - God doesn’t want us to give because we feel that we must do it. He doesn’t want us to give because we feel the pressure of others’ expectations. He wants us to give because we want to and find joy in blessing others.
- Sowing and reaping - If you plant a few seeds, you’ll get a few plants. If you plant a lot of seeds, you’ll get a lot of plants. It’s a simple principle, but not always easy to walk out. A farmer chooses carefully how much is planted, and the same should be true of us with respect to our finances.
As the years have gone by, I find myself following my brother’s example and becoming more generous. To be honest, it’s not always easy, but it’s a conscious decision that I continue to make. It’s not about being irresponsible with God’s provision, but avoids being overly concerned about the “what ifs” or “gotta have the latest, greatest thing.”
I’m sure that many of you are just like my brother. You love blessing others. However, if you are more like me, I would encourage you to make the conscious decision to enjoy blessing others as God has blessed you. I guarantee that He will take care of your needs and it will bring you joy as you see what it does in others’ lives.
When asked about his favorite Bible character, Pastor Jeff identified David, “because he was the runt-of-the-litter underdog who both won it all and failed miserably. Yet, he captured God's heart by the man he was on the inside.”
