Planting in order to reap is how faith works. It is detrimental when we don’t give. God’s economy runs off faith; not the local economy. Giving benefits us. Our attitude towards money says more about our love for God and His people than our words.
Luke 6:38 Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
You’ve heard it said, “Give till it hurts!” God wants giving to be a joyous occasion; not a painful one. Giving should never be seen as a mandated chore or obligation.
2 Corinthians 9:5-8 Therefore I (Paul) thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Put your faith into action. Our giving tells what we truly believe. A scarcity in giving is the reason for a shortage in receiving. It shows a lack of trust in God as our Provider.
Matthew 6:30-33 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Giving is planting seed. (Example of a farmer) You cannot live off of the memory of past seeds planted or past givings. The memory of a steak has zero nutritional value.
Back to 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Reaping (receiving) is proportionate to sowing (giving). No planting of seed, no receiving of a harvest.
Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Amplifed Version Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. 8 For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. 10 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
The true test of having heard is shown in the results it brings.
Matthew 13:23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The Word of God is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12) Knowledge is power! But for the power of the Word to be released, it must be acted upon.
Luke 11:28 Jesus said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!
James 1:22-25 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
We must keep our minds focused on His word.
Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Our faith is inoperable and useless if we don’t act on it.
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (‘works’ in Greek = corresponding actions)
Giving is a seed of faith requires planting in order to work.
