“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” (2 Corinthians 9:10,11).
One church member was really struggling in the decision making process of increasing her giving of financial offerings. She was talking with her pastor about it and shared her difficulty.
He responded that the church had gathered a group of its most wealthy members. “What if you increase your giving and I promise you that if you can’t afford to pay for any of your life needs, this group will cover the expense for you completely?”
She thought about it and agreed.
The pastor lovingly continued, “Do you mean to tell me that you are willing to trust in this group of imperfect humans with large yet still limited resources and with sinful minds that could rethink their promise … but you’re not willing to trust in God who is perfect in his promises, owns the entire universe and would give it to you if you really need it?”
I’ve been studying and teaching about tithing, and the discoveries are so incredible.
By God’s perfect wisdom and love, I’m working through a major financial decision right now selling/buying a home, I just received my financial statement from CrossLife telling me how much my wife and I gave in offerings last year, and I’m participating in a challenge at CrossLife to give 10% for 10 weeks (or increase beyond 10%).
All of it is leading me closer to God, who is calling on me to pray more fervently, give up my greed and be rich in him, and become so much more joyful in my generosity. Possessions aren’t gripping me as tightly. I am seeing so many more opportunities to invest in God’s kingdom. And at the same time, I have more growing to do.
I’m excited to see what God can do in my life and at my church!
Want to know more? I invite you to check out my Sunday messages here.
PRAYER: Dear God, you are a giver not a taker, and your generosity always exceeds our need. I want to trust you more and honor you with tithing, giving you my first and best instead of my leftovers. As you keep your promises to provide, also keep your promise for me to grow in faith and love. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: God gives seed and bread, and then he increases the supply of them, and what happens? The harvest increases, and the harvest is you. Your “righteousness,” meaning your spiritual goodness as a perfectly forgiven steward, your right desires to worship God with your wealth. God gives you seed and bread because he wants you to know his fatherly love, to rejoice in his forgiveness, and then to be free and faith-filled in your righteous response to be generous. When? “On every occasion.”
Be sure to notice the proportions there. God gives you his all. All his forgiveness. All his mercy. And all blessings that you will ever need. And then more. “He will supply and increase.”
What proportion does he want in return? All. All of your trust. All of your love. All of your wealth, income and possessions managed and given proportionately to make him look good, to worship him, and to do what he wants.
