This treasure was in my daily reading today:

 

But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

 

I have found such beauty in giving. I’ve also found that it is very difficult for many to give, and even when they do, it is not really a heart desire filled with joy but one of bitter offering.

 

It is such a pity because the Bible says that when I sow sparingly, I will also reap sparingly. Yet when I sow bountifully, I also reap bountifully. What a beautiful promise!

 

Some of us have been so frustrated at our predicaments, but we tend to negate God’s nudges to give and gift bountifully into other’s lives and Kingdom work.

 

If we’re really honest, we rob God daily and then expect Him to reward us bountifully. I can promise you it will not happen, in one way or another.

 

I have been grateful that God has allowed me a joyful heart of giving. I love to give. I love everything about it. I consider it quite the adventure with Christ Jesus! I walk into our ministry every week and ask the Lord who I can give to that week. I am not boasting in myself, friends. This is what only Jesus can do in a human heart. However, intentionality is quite important in the life of a believer. I’m learning that the more I give, it seems the more He gives.

 

I love gifting someone who is unsuspecting. I love asking God where my giving should go. I love when He nudges me to give blindly. I love to undergird Jesus at work. I consider it my joyful duty.

 

I love giving with no strings attached. Many today, even in the church, give with expectations.

 

That isn’t really giving, now, is it?

 

Some use giving as a form of manipulation and the minute you don’t comply with their desires they will no longer give. Poor motives, indeed, to the Lord, so the giving does not count in the least.

 

Giving with open hands also opens the hands of the Lord. He loves a cheerful giver! Where we’ve seen a good thing and refused to offer our hand, He calls it sin. So, it stands to reason that sometimes our lack of joyful giving is no less a sin.

 

You and I have merely been loaned all things. This includes money, material possessions, and even time. He owns it all. Where you’ve not aligned your heart to sow you’ve also inadvertently caused a lack of reaping. It is a true biblical principle.

 

Likewise, where and whatever you sow, you will also reap. Good, or bad.

 

Where we sow disobedience, we reap the fruit of that which we’ve sown. Where we have sown obedience we tend to be rewarded with more responsibilities, more provision, and more favor from God.

 

It is what it is.

 

Many of you have plowed hard and fallow grounds for a long time. You’ve sacrificed your lives for the sake of the King and Kingdom, you’ve placed yourself in a grave of sorts in order to revive others, and you’ve given lavishly, and joyfully, to Kingdom work.

 

Your time of fulfillment of the benefits of what you have sown is coming. You will never be in lack. There is a bountiful blessing headed your way.

 

Yet, for some, needs to be an awakening of the truth. That we have become too “lax” when it comes to the things of God. Maybe we’ve not thought it is important enough. Maybe the cares of the world have taken priority. Maybe we have become too self-driven. This has caused a reaping of consequences that did not have to be.

 

May we approach the throne today and ask God where we have not given bountifully. Ask Him to cause you to be honest with yourself and not to fall into a deception, or delusion. Ask Him to replace your lukewarm heart with a new heart that loves to give lavishly. Ask Him to change the way to view giving. Ask Him to take you on an adventure when it comes to giving.

 

In return, the Bible says we will also reap bountifully.