Sowing Generously (Social Security, God's Way)

I was looking for something else today when I stumbled upon this treasure. Have you ever done that? For example, you're looking for that one thing you think you need most in that moment, like a hair brush or something and suddenly you find that other thing you couldn't seem to find before like your old remote. I just had to share the good news. May God speak to you above and beyond my ability.

God, bless the reader.

2nd Corinthians 9:6-15

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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. 9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."^[a] 10 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. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

I like this passage. It reminds me to not doubt the great generosity of God our Father in Heaven. Now, I'm not over looking the first part about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly. I'm just tickled about what the overall message is. What it says is that you can count on God to back you up. It also says that if you've got a good feeling about something God is asking you to invest in, then go ahead and do it!

Have a look again at verse seven: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." God puts a desire on your heart (not to be confused by peer pressure or marketing), then he expects you to follow that desire.

It's normal to get a vision from God and desire great things. His plans are usually bigger than yours. With that said, let me add something. God will also give you small things or seemingly insignificant things to do. These things might not seem like much fun or appear to be very glamorous at all. He expects you to follow those desires as well. What seems small can be huge in terms of God's scheme. Remember the mustard seed? (Matthew 13:31,32) Nothing is too big or too small for God to use.

More happy thoughts. Verse eight brings God's backing. "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." Yep, That's my God! God is faithful. I have never experienced God turning his back on me, and I have given him virtually every reason to do so.

Better get a bigger box to hold them there blessings there partner, cause you're sure going to need one. Look at the projections in verses ten and eleven." 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. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Consider "...the harvest of your righteousness." in verse ten. Just, think on that for a while. I did just now, for about thirty seconds, and do you know what I'm thinking? Probably not, so I'll tell you. (it is a blog right?) I'm thinking eternal thoughts. Thoughts of heavenly treasures. "For where your heart is your treasures will be also." (Matthew 6:19) Folks, it just keeps getting better.

In verse eleven, you see the results of your good management of God's resources. Let me ask you a question here. If you have a business and you trust someone to get something done with your resources, and they do exactly what you gave them to do using all those resources (no more and no less), what would be your most likely course of action? Commend them? Reward them? The next time you need to get the job done, you would more than likely have that person do it again.

After seeing that type of performance time and time again, you might even promote that person to a position that allows them to manage more resources and use your resources within their own discretion just because you can trust them. And here it is in verse eleven. "...you will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion..." I hope I emphasized enough the gradual nature of such progress.

This is what I think. If God has put on your heart a desire to do a great thing, then chances are you have shown yourself faithful in some other areas. God will not set you up to fail! He might put you in a position to completely rely on him to make the rest of it happen, but I'm sure his plans are to bless you and others through you.

So what are you thinking? Having some good thoughts? Getting a little giddy inside like a kid about to get on a bike or horse for the first time? Perhaps you feel more like you're about to get on a roller-coaster. To be excited about God's plan is one thing. To be anxious is another. Pray and fast a bit. Take time to let the Lord confirm in your heart, beyond a shadow of doubt, then step out of the boat. Peter said "Lord if it is you, then I will come" (Matthew 4:28) I'm paraphrasing a bit there. What Peter demonstrated should be your attitude as well. Some desires have been with you since childhood. Go there in your heart and look. Ask God about then and now and you will know, that you know for sure.

Maybe you're thinking that none of this is for you. Maybe you wonder how or why God would even consider using you at all in such a way. That's normal too. No worries then, this is for you. God created you. He loves you. He wants you to love him, but he's not going to pry. You have a choice.

Wouldn't you rather someone love you because they chose to do so? So it is with God. We all feel like we could have messed things up from time to time. Maybe when we were young we were shown a pretty picture of Jesus and God in Sunday School, or maybe not.

Perhaps like a lot of people, you just feel like something is missing, like your atomic structure isn't quite balanced. As if there's just a proton or two that needs to be charged. That feeling is there because there is something between you and God.

That thing separating you and God is a lack of forgiveness. All you need to do is ask. It is a free gift from God through his Son Jesus. Jesus said that he is the way to the Father. Just tell him you're sorry, and you don't want to go on living without him in your life.

If your separation is a case where you are having trouble forgiving God, just remember, "...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Long before anything ever happened to you or the ones you love or anyone, God demonstrated his love. Even after all humanity continued to turn their back on God, he gave up his Son so that we would have a way to himself.

Go ahead and get things right, then ask him "Why Lord? Why did you allow it to happen?" and wait for a response. Pray for a response. God will answer you. He is faithful. And be ready for the blessings to fall. God has been waiting for this moment, and he has got something good for you.

You didn't read this by chance. I didn't write this by chance.

If you've made a decision to turn your life over to God, through Jesus, his Son, consider leaving a message. Here's two reasons.

1. It's good to make a profession of faith. That will be a help to you.
   
2. It's an encouragement to me.

Should you choose not to comment, no worries. Go in peace and share the good news!