A Time For Generosity!

I hear someone saying: “Are you kidding? With all the economic uncertainty, now is a time to hunker down, a time to watch over what little we have like a hawk, a time to hoard, a time to keep!” Perhaps that might make sense if the laws of the harvest were not in effect for God’s children. “Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” ¹ This biblical principle among believers is universal, timeless, and unbreakable. “He who sows generously will also reap generously.” ² Logic and knowledge of God’s character should tell us we cannot out-give Him! “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” ³ God delights in generous givers because such a spirit resembles His own heart. So it stands to reason that God will continue to give givers the capacity to keep on giving! Jesus plainly taught this principle in the Sermon on the Mount. Here is what He said: “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving – large or small – it will be used to measure what is given back to you.” ⁴

As we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (on earth and in our hearts), all of our necessities will be provided for.⁵ As we give sacrificially, God responds supernaturally. So our hearts can be generous no matter what the economic conditions. “God loves a cheerful giver.” ⁶ We are never more like our Savior than when we give of ourselves unconditionally and sacrificially for the glory of God. At a time in our nation where greed abounds and financial fear rules, what an opportunity we as God’s children have to display trust in our Father to supply our needs. What a moment in time to demonstrate generosity in such a way that the cause of Jesus Christ is advanced!

Pastor John Wallace Miller

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¹Galatians 6:7-8

²II Corinthians 9:6

³II Corinthians 9:10

⁴Luke 6:38

⁵Matthew 6:33

⁶II Corinthians 9:7