6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [a]bountifully will also reap [b]bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [c]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 likened giving to meet the needs of others unto sowing seeds. Just as seeds are sown to reap a harvest, we give and expect God to bless us with a harvest of that gift. Furthermore, just as it requires time to reap a harvest of a seed sown, it also requires time or patience to reap a harvest of our generous giving to the poor. Farmers practice the principle of giving and receiving to enhance the value of their seeds, by planting them to reap a harvest. In the same vein, we enhance the value of our gifts or resources by serving others with them, and then reaping a harvest of increase or prosperity. God blesses us with more when we purposefully serve others with the gifts and resources He has blessed us with. The whole concept of prosperity or increase is hinged on the principle of giving and receiving. We can move from not enough or just enough to more than enough when we put our resources to good use by serving God’s purpose with them, in giving to others to meet their needs. We can give our way into increase by practicing giving and receiving as though sowing and reaping, according to God’s Word. We can aim to be of greater blessing to people by serving them with the little that we have, as we see God increase us to do more.
The Word of God likened giving to sowing that we might have a good picture of what giving is and how it works. Most of us are quite familiar with what sowing and reaping is in agriculture, and how it works. God wanted us to practice giving and receiving like farmers do sowing and reaping. We will make the most of our hospitality and generosity ministry when we run it like sowing and reaping. For example, every farmer sows to reap, not just for the fun of it. Hope is involved in the whole process. Again, every farmer is patient to see the harvest of the seed sown, and watering and cultivating of the seed is required to bring it unto fruit bearing. The Word tells us in Galatians 6:9 that we must not be weary in well doing, and that we shall reap if we faint not. It is the same principle in every sense of it; giving and receiving is the same as sowing and reaping.
My Solid Front (Confession):
Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing of sowing and reaping; giving and receiving. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that I am a giver, and my seed sown is blessed, and the fruits of my righteousness are multiplied. Amen.
Further Meditation: Isaiah 55:10-12; Psalm 112:1-10.