Would you say that yours is a ‘spilling over’ kind of life? You know, the kind of life where you experience God’s constant supply because you are constantly pouring out? I hope so! Because there is no better life than that! Nothing is as exhilarating as being a flow-through-account of God’s blessings for a world in need.
This morning I paused and considered the implications of this passage from Scripture:
“Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
The principle here is this: What we sow is what we grow!
But here’s an important side note: God doesn’t want our gifts if we give them grudgingly or in the haste of the moment without thinking too much about it. He wants our heartfelt praise and thanksgiving. He wants an offering that comes out of our gratitude for His goodness and from our trust that He’ll more than provide for us.
If a farmer only plants a few seeds and saves the rest for food – he’ll only reap a small crop. But if he plants generously – with the future in mind – he will reap a bountiful crop.
It’s the same with us.
If we generously plant seeds of faith, through our gifts, our prayers, our words of encouragement, we will generously reap a harvest of blessing in this life and the next. But if we white knuckle our resources to make sure we have enough for ourselves, ours will be a small and sparse life indeed.
We are called to a spilling-over-more-than-enough life!
When we live by faith with an open hand, we will experience the wonder of God’s more-than-enough-supply.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 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.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-12
Read this passage one more time.
It’s amazing! It’s a great promise and challenge to us as God’s people!
The One who supplies seed for the sower will supply and increase our store of seed – so that we can be generous on every occasion. This results in many people giving thanks to God for the blessings they received through us.
As we grow in our giving, God increases His supply to and through us. What a concept!
This is God’s will for us! That we live such generous faith-filled lives causing others to be so blessed by our obedience that they break out in praise to God. What a joy!
I challenge you to consider the idea that your life is to be one of constant supply – to receive from God – and to pour out to a world in need. It’s the only way to live.
