“How we handle money is a reflection of what our heart truly treasures: God or money.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 20, 2024
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
After explaining the promise of sowing and reaping, Paul goes on to describe the spirit and attitude of our sowing and reaping. Cheerful, not under compulsion. The Apostle beautifully describes generous giving as a heart-felt experience led by the Holy Spirit. Giving is an act of worship between Christ and man—not a feeling of manipulation from another man or organization. How we handle money is a reflection of what our heart truly treasures: God or money. Like the love a grandparent feels after receiving a preschool grandchild’s drawing of their hand outlined to look like a turkey, with coloring outside the lines—the Lord loves to see His child give genuine, heartfelt gifts to those they care about. God’s love follows happy givers. Reminds me of a new friend’s story:
On the drive early one morning to the Hartsfield/Jackson airport in Atlanta, my Uber driver Andy shared some of his life stories. Growing up in another country, he has lived in America off and on over the past 30 years. Without me bringing up that I worked for the National Christian Foundation, he shared with me how he marveled at the generosity of Americans. Over these three decades, he had observed how abundantly Americans love their families. This surprised him since he had been taught as a young man that Americans always worked and did not have time for family. But after moving to Atlanta in the 1990s, he was invited more than once into the homes of friends and was pleasantly surprised by how warm and loving the families were that he visited. He experienced the generous hospitality of a family coming together to make him feel welcome. So inspiring to hear how generous hospitality blessed my new friend.
And there’s more…
Our drive was about 50 minutes, so he continued to share with me another generous activity of his. When tipped with cash, he places this found money (an unexpected financial blessing) in the middle console of his car. At some stop lights, he gives a couple of bucks to a homeless person who may be hovering outside his window. Then, as I felt the energy in his voice rise, he joyfully declared, “Some passengers witness my small act of generosity and will contribute an additional ten more dollars to my giving fund quietly tucked into my cubby hole between the seats.” Andy was describing the Scriptural principle of sowing and reaping. Whenever we sow, we will reap. Our reaping may be monetary…it could just as easily be a thank you. And the results of our sowing may extend beyond the immediate. Yes, a momentary satisfaction of being the Spirit’s vessel of blessing, but there may be a time lapse between sowing truth into a child’s heart and reaping a consistent character transformation. Just as seeds take time to be planted, watered, and germinated, so something like a relationship takes years of sowing patient love to reap the fruit of trust and intimacy. Beautifully, my new friend Andy is uber generous as an Uber driver!
Winston Churchill, the famous British statesman, nails this idea of giving over getting:
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
“Then he [Jesus] said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own’” (Luke 12:15, NLT).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, continue to grow my heart of generosity by sowing into people and projects that bring you great joy through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Consider systematically and spontaneously giving in a manner that honors God.
Related Reading
Psalm 126:5-6; Luke 6:38; John 4:37; Galatians 6:7-9
Worship Resource
Celtic Worship: Come Thou Font
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