Christian Giving...You may have heard of the Government economic stimulus plans. These plans are structured to spend enough money
in the economy in hopes of stimulating economic growth to get more money flowing.
However, you may not know that God has a type of economic stimulus plan Himself. It's a very simple plan. It's found in 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7...
"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
This scripture has to do with Christian giving or sowing and reaping. It simply says that he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will reap
bountifully. Sounds like A pretty basic economic stimulus plan right?
However, when reading this verse, we usually think of sparingly in terms of a small amount and bountifully in terms of a large amount. But if we
look closer, we may see a deeper meaning.
See, whether you're sowing sparingly or bountifully may also have more to do with what is purposed in your heart; in other
words, whether or not you are a Christian giving as you are led to give. Here's a thought provoking question: Are you following your heart when you give?
Mark 12:41-44 reads...
"Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came
and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put
in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her
whole livelihood."
This widow gave all that she had. She obviously gave from her heart into His Kingdom. She wouldn't have given all that she had unless she was giving
from her heart. She was giving because she loved God more than she loved her last two mites.
So I believe she gave as she purposed in her heart. Even though she gave only two mites, Jesus considered her giving bountiful. Because He said
she gave more than all of those who gave to the treasury. So Jesus obviously considered her giving as "bountifully" in terms beyond just a large amount.
I also believe God honored her Christian giving and met her needs. When the widow gave from her heart, God made sure she had whatever she needed and
more. Because 2nd Corinthians 9:8 says He does so...
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you so that you always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work."
Now when we read the scriptures about the widow's mite we may tend to focus only on the widow's giving. But what about the other givers? Those
who the scripture says "put in much".
Here's another thought provoking question...did they give sparingly or bountifully? Did they give all that they could have out of their love for
God? Did they search their heart and seek to hear from God and give as He wanted them to give? Did they give their best?
The point here is that each of us has to search our own heart and give purposefully. Not reluctantly or because someone else encourages us to
give. But give because you want to sow your best into Jesus' ministry. Give because you love God and want to see His Kingdom advance. Give cheerfully.
God knows your heart. Ask Him what He wants you to sow into His Kingdom.
And the scripture says that when you give bountifully (or as purposed in your heart) you will receive bountifully. But if you give sparingly
(reluctantly or under compulsion) you will receive sparingly. I don't think God could have made His economic stimulus plan any simpler.
To learn more about God's economic stimulus plan please review the following articles.
