This weeks topic is one that many of you may be able to identify with. During this spring season many families and individuals spend lots of time sowing all types of seeds. Some are sown in the yard as grass seed. Others may sow in their garden spot many types of seeds they trust with the right sunshine and rain they will see a bountiful harvest of produce to fill their freezers. Either way this week's treasure uses this illustration to teach us truth on how God works in this process....spiritually. Our text is found in 2 Corinthians 9:10.....Read it with me....IN fact read chapters 8 and 9 throughout the week.....you will be blessed!
"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."
Now before we dig in too far I must tell you that this passage, contextually, is all about giving. So for those of you who run any time a man of God brings up the topic of giving go ahead and put your running shoes on.......Chickens! For the rest of you, hang on as HE is about to unveil how Awesome HE is in this Great work of God, in showing us how HE uses us to accomplish His work here!
Chapters 8 and 9 both are dealing with how God works in and through HIS church (aka you and I ) to meet the needs of missions here and all over the world. When we come to verse 10 HE unveils several key things regarding giving.
1) HE is IN all aspects of the process of giving. HE uses an illustration most of the original readers would have clearly understood back then.....HE supplies the seed (the initial product that brings forth growth and harvest) for the ones who will sow it. HE also supplies the end result (the true goal of seed sowing, food for the eater, ) bread. HE not only initiates the beginning but supplies the seed to be sown and HE also provides the final product to meet the need of the hungry. Kinda reminds me of the Alpha and Omega passage where HE is the beginning and the end!!!
In giving it is the same way. HE will supply seed (aka Money) for us to sow and even multiply that which has been sown (aka the process ) which we will look into another day. Now for Many Christians today this concept of cooperating with God in finances is rare. Most get THEIR money, do with it as they please and then give God the left overs. If there is anything left at the end of the month then HE gets that. I often hear christians talking about ways they have spent their money (sadly wasted would have been a better word) and they bypass the many opportunities God has provided for them. I too am guilty of this in times past. We squander it on our fleshly desires. OUCH.....hurts doesn't it!? We will give an account........to ONE who knows the whole truth!!!!
How sad it is that we are so far removed from HIM that we fail to see what HE clearly shows in scripture.....IT IS ALL HIS! We miss the incredible opportunities that HE often places before us to give in obedience and watch HIM provide the seed and then multiply it!
Many of our CBF'rs have been through FPU here at our church. Many are learning how to cooperate with God in their giving. Many are seeing HIS provision as well as HIS blessing. But let me warn you. IT will never be without the exercise of faith. We must trust HIM in and through the process. I have heard testimony after testimony in the past few years. How about your's? What does your spiritual garden say about your seed sowing for God? Are you asking HIM what HE would have you do?
Tomorrow we will deal with the why's of why we don't! It is so simple yet sooooo profound! Joining with the God of the Universe to reach this world for HIM! Nothing else compares!
Join with us, won't you???
Blessings
Bruce
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