The Law of Sowing And Reaping

Seed-Sowing.jpg

There is a law of sowing and reaping as the scriptures below will show, but to be properly understood, let me say this first.

Giving should be an act of faith. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also. In other words, the thing you value most is what you spend money on the most. And the scriptures advise us to place our value in the things of God. We do this by how well we give cheerfully to the things of God.

Most Christians don’t give unless told to do so, this is an indicator of a poor giving culture. A lover of shoes spends money on shoes while he or she might have just enough (or even less clothes). In ancient Israel, whenever they faced hard times the first thing they cut off from their spending list was the house of God. Sometimes they even took not just the treasury from the temple to ward off foreign kings but they often also pillaged the temple to do this.

Giving financially shows we are not bound by our money – that we do not trust in money but in God, and when we do, God gives us ideas, miraculous opportunities, and favours that will replicate wealth.

For example, Solomon gave a thousand burnt offerings and God showed up… and gave him wisdom – that is, an idea generating gift that resulted in much wealth.

That is what Malachi means when it says that when we pay our tithe, God opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing. The ‘window’ is symbolic of ideas that command resources.

When the widow gave her meal and that of her son to Elijah she received a supernatural supply of provision…

That is the rule. Show God you trust Him and not your money to meet your needs and He will ensure you live beyond your means without debt, greed or theft. That was the principle displayed by Abraham when he offered Isaac. God wanted to see who Abraham’s trust was in to secure his descendants. Was his trust in Isaac, the only heir he had (which is logically the only means by which a linage can come forth) or in God who gave the heir?

Unfortunately, people twist the message to teach that you have to give a certain amount dictated by your pastor. That’s wrong, let God dictate to you. Another lie is that with your money you can lay claim to certain named blessings at a financial price. That is very very wrong.

sowing-seeds1

 

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

Lesson: 
How much is given is not determined by numbers but by the condition of the heart (does it demonstrate your faith in God’s ability to provide like Abraham did, or is it empty ritual or just to pacify the preacher’s greed)

and

by the degree of your reasonable sacrifice (remember the widow’s mite and Romans 12:1-2; sacrifices must be reasonable. Don’t give your house rent or school fees etc except God expressly said so directly to you not through the mouth of a pastor. For you are to be led of the Spirit not led by man of God.)

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver”.

Lesson:
Apart from giving as the Spirit leads, we must also have an attitude or culture of giving. Both to the work of God in Church and the needs of the poor and needy outside church; one cannot be substituted for the other. Many make the mistake of saying, “can’t all this money we are giving to the church be given to the poor? Can’t all these structures we are building be replaced by giving to the poor?”

Wrong wrong wrong. Remember that is exactly what Judas said when a woman lavished a whole year’s salary on Jesus. Thinking like that is a pointer to the poor condition of your heart. You want to minimize what you give and pacify your conscience by saying you gave to the Lord by giving to the poor. If you are a true giver, give to both.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

reaping 1

Lesson:
This is a message to the cheerful giver; that God is able to give him grace (favour, power to produce, etc) so that he or she will always have something to give. So that giving does not result in reduced wealth but in increased wealth.

“As it is written: ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’ Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,”
II Corinthians 9:6‭-‬13 NKJV

Final point Paul makes;
1. God will supply the seed that they give.
2. He will multiply it.
3. He will increase the fruit also.

Amen and Amen.
 

Adams Allison.