Day 43: Prosperity through Sowing and Reaping

In the previous messages, we looked at some of God’s promises of prosperity for which the primary condition is that we bring our full tithe into God's storehouse. I defined tithe as the first tenth of our income set apart for God. Today, we will look at a scriptural principle that will take us even further into this area of prosperity.

2 Corinthians 9:5-6:

"So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. [You see, the motives are very important. Paul goes on:] Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (NIV)

We need to bear in mind that 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 both deal with the theme of our giving money to God. The background was that Paul was taking up an offering from various churches for some believers who were in financial need. One of the churches that had promised an offering was this church at Corinth. He is writing to them to explain how he wants it arranged and he gives some of the motives that are important and the principles which should govern our giving to God. Therefore, it becomes important for us because the same motives and the same principles are valid for us today.

Now when Paul uses the phrases 'sowing' and 'reaping', he's borrowing from the terminology of agriculture and applying it to money. 'Sowing' is giving and 'reaping' is receiving, again in terms of money. Bear that in mind, it's important.

Paul goes on with another principle, another thing that relates to motive:

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV)

The Greek says "a hilarious giver". I wonder how many of us are "hilarious" in our giving? I have seen people in a very poor, backward, underprivileged nation of the Third World giving hilariously to God far above their tithe and I saw how God blessed them when they did.

Going back to the words of Paul, verse 8 [of 2 Corinthians 9]:

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (NIV)

What a rich verse that is! There are two 'abound’s' and four 'all’s'. Altogether it leaves no room for lack or insufficiency in any area of our lives and it's God's grace that Paul is writing about. In fact, the key word in these chapters on giving is "grace". Giving is a grace. It's one of the Christian graces. It also springs from the grace of God.