THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (KJV)
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
The context is obviously primarily about giving money.
Paul spoke specifically about an offering going to meet the needs of the saints in Jerusalem.
But when we carefully consider the chapter, we discover that the law of sowing and reaping operates with many types of seed. It’s about more than money.
*I. IT’S ABOUT GRACE
2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Jesus said, Luke 6:38 (KJV)
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
I suppose every one of us want that to be money.
“Give money and money shall be given…”
But I want to tell you that grace is more needful.
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
A person has to look to see it, but grace is found twice in this verse:
· By grace are ye saved
· Faith is the gift of God, a gift from God is called “grace.”
There are two elements involved in our salvation
· Grace and
· Faith
Grace means “a gift from God” – we are not saved except that God is gracious
Faith is a gift of God – even the faith that makes grace work is a gift from God.
· The call into God’s service is a grace[1]
· The understanding of His Word is a grace[2]
· Life itself is a grace[3]
It is no small thing when God makes “all grace abound toward you.”
That grace might be financial if that is the true need of the hour.
But it could also be
· An outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
· An understanding of the scriptures in a time of unique need
· A special measure of mercy when you have fallen
· A wisdom to know how to direct souls under you in a time of pressure
Luke 6:38 (KJV)
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Do not discount that what God may give in return for your giving is abounding grace.
Secondly concerning the law of sowing and reaping,
*II. IT’S ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 Corinthians 9:9-10 (KJV)
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
In exchange for the gift, the Bible says that God may, “increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
I take those fruits to be in the manner of souls saved, or serving the Lord.
What if the gifts we offer to the Lord result in another generation having the opportunity to hear uncompromised Bible truth?
Wouldn’t that be a cause worthy of our gifts?
There are two very concerning things happening in our world today. I think they are linked, though many would have trouble seeing that link.
· On the one hand there is the dismantling of authority
· On the other there is the perverting of Bible doctrine in order to win the world
If Christians are the salt and the light of the world, does it not stand to reason that if our salt has lost its savor, it would be useless as a moral compass in our world?
Almost no one who is considered a founding father of our country, could be considered a Christian as you and I think of them.
And yet, even the most notorious of them, Benjamin Franklin for instance, viewed Christianity as essential to the moral good of our country.
Very few Christians have great moral character today
The lost world, including those in leadership, see little moral value in Christianity.
I am convinced that the reason for that is that Christianity by in large, has compromised so much with the world that the world views Christianity as little more than a thorn in its side.
But when we, who strive to be uncompromising, sow gifts into the work of Christ, we are used by God to increase the fruits of our righteousness.
Concerning the law of sowing and reaping,
*III. ITS ABOUT THANKSGIVING
2 Corinthians 9:11-15 (KJV)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Bountiful sowing results in thanksgiving in at least three areas,
A. The enriching of the work of God
2 Corinthians 9:11-12 (KJV)
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Not going to sugar coat it, it is always a relief and blessing when God’s work is adequately financed.
It’s not our first concern, but it is a real concern.
When the saints of God give bountifully, it results in thanksgiving that the work of the Lord is well funded.
B. The professed subjection to the gospel of Christ
2 Corinthians 9:13-14 (KJV)
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
More important than the funding of the work of God is to evidence that the believers are submissive and obedient to the Lord.
Tithing.
There is no way we could force a person to tithe. And we all know it can be a temptation to skip it sometimes.
Whenever Christians faithfully tithe and give abundantly over their tithes, we know they are subjected unto the gospel of Jesus Christ.
C. The unspeakable gift that underlies it all
2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
I am convinced that this “unspeakable gift” can only speak of the “gospel of Christ” of verse 13.
Honestly, no matter how bountiful our gifts may be, they can never measure to the standard of God’s gift in Christ.[4]
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