Paul often used illustrations from agriculture to emphasise his message. Here he pointed out that Christian giving (or stewardship) is like an investment. It is the type of investment a farmer makes when he sows seed. Sowing will in due course bring remarkable results. Where a farmer has sown only a few seeds, he will have a small harvest. Where he has sown widely, he will have a bountiful harvest. The return on his investment depends largely on how much he sows. Paul said it will be the same in our giving. When we give little, the return will be small. When we give generously, our investment will bring a rich harvest of blessing. He also added two interesting comments. In v.8-11 he stated that if we give, God will see that we will always have something to live. This has been proved over and over again by many Christians. Churches too have discovered this. For example, the more a church gives to missionary work and to others, the more God will bless that church and supply its local needs. Paul's second comment was that there will be real thanksgiving to God because He has been allowed to use you in this way. In v.12 Paul spoke of many expressions of thanks to God. Those who give will thank God for the privilege. Those who receive will thank God for the gift and the giver. God doesn't expect us to give what we don't have. He asks us to give (see 8:12) according to our means, according to what we have, not according to what we don't have. God doesn't look at what we give, but rather at what we have after we give. That is how we should look at our giving and our stewardship. |
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