Sow Abundantly to Harvest Abundantly
In the teachings of the New Testament, Paul, in 2 Corinthians 9, encourages the Corinthians to give generously to those in need. This call to action is not just about writing a cheque or buying drinks for friends, but rather, it's about embracing a spirit of joyful, willing, and sacrificial giving.
The four key components of giving generously, as described in 2 Corinthians 9, are:
- Giving cheerfully: Each person should give according to what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. This is because God loves a cheerful giver.
- Giving generously and sacrificially: Giving should be beyond one’s means, reflecting God’s own generosity and the willingness to sacrifice to meet others’ needs.
- Giving with trust in God’s provision: Believers are encouraged to give while trusting that God will provide for their needs and bless their generosity, making grace abound in their lives.
- Giving as a response to God’s grace and love: Generosity is a response to Christ’s generous love and a reflection of His grace, not motivated by obligation but by love and joy.
These components emphasize a giving that is joyful, willing, sacrificial, and motivated by faith in God’s provision and gratitude for His grace.
In the same vein, it's important to note that Christians should not give "reluctantly or under compulsion" (verses 7 and 8 of 2 Corinthians 9). The main goal of giving generously is to bless others, with the fringe benefit being personal blessing. However, it's crucial not to give away everything to the point of not being able to meet one's own needs.
In the New Testament, Christians are instructed to "give what you have decided in your heart to give" (verses 7 and 8 of 2 Corinthians 9). This emphasizes that the decision to give should come from within, not from external pressures.
The author, who believes that generosity can show through in giving to the poor and to the church, offers services to help people write a book. The goal is to earn an income to give generously. By working with the author, one can indirectly contribute to the giving to those in need.
In the spirit of 2 Corinthians 9, the author encourages generosity among people. For further instructions on focusing attention on the needs of others, the author suggests checking out Philippians 2:3-4.
In Luke 21, Jesus heralds the generosity of a poor widow, while the contributions of the rich people are not mentioned. This underscores the importance of giving with a humble and generous heart, regardless of one's financial status.
In conclusion, embracing generosity, as taught in 2 Corinthians 9, is about giving cheerfully, generously, sacrificially, and with trust in God’s provision, and it's a response to Christ’s generous love and grace. It's not about obligation but about love and joy. If you're anxious to start, finish, or publish your book, the author offers a free 30-minute strategy session to assist you.
- To truly follow in the footsteps of the teachings in 2 Corinthians 9, one should give not only in the realms of finance, such as donating to charity or investing in personal-finance resources, but also extend generosity to aspects of lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and other areas where one can demonstrate joyful, willing, and sacrificial giving.
- A follower of the New Testament should not feel compelled to give extravagantly in all these sectors, including fashion-and-beauty, that they cannot meet their personal needs, but rather, should make decisions with trust in God's provision and give generously while maintaining balance in their own lives.
