Generosity
2 Corinthians 9
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 6-7) "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
My Thoughts
Paul reminds us to be generous. Generosity means to be giving right? Well, what if you don't have enough for yourself? Enough money, enough food, enough clothes, or other stuff. Yes, generosity is about giving, it is also about being selfless as selfishness is the opposite of generosity.
Being generous doesn't mean that you have to go out and donate to charity or that you have to give food to every hungry person you see or even clothes to those who don't have much. You can totally do those things, and it is awesome for you to! If you are unable to do those things, that is alright too. There are other ways you can be generous.
You can be generous with your time, with your knowledge, with your advice. You could probably think of something that you can be generous with, even if you can't afford to give, financially. Paul says here that you reap what you sow, and it is so true. He says that if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously.
What Paul is getting at is not necessarily that if you give seventy percent of your income, you will get back more or that God will give you back more. Rather, you will get more in God's kingdom. That is nothing really to do with material things or money, but with your spirit. If your heart is not in the right place and you expect to gain something from your generosity, God will not be pleased.
If you are going to give, then give, and if you are not, then don't. Do not give reluctantly and do not give compulsively. Give because you want to give, not expecting anything in return, not because you feel you have to, but because you want to do so out of the goodness of your heart.
Giving, being generous, is supposed to be a joyful thing. Like at Christmas, the time of giving, it is supposed to be a joyful time! So be joyful this Christmas, whether you give a lot or give a little, if you give with gladness of heart, that is what matters and that is pleasing to God.
Being generous doesn't mean that you have to go out and donate to charity or that you have to give food to every hungry person you see or even clothes to those who don't have much. You can totally do those things, and it is awesome for you to! If you are unable to do those things, that is alright too. There are other ways you can be generous.
You can be generous with your time, with your knowledge, with your advice. You could probably think of something that you can be generous with, even if you can't afford to give, financially. Paul says here that you reap what you sow, and it is so true. He says that if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously.
What Paul is getting at is not necessarily that if you give seventy percent of your income, you will get back more or that God will give you back more. Rather, you will get more in God's kingdom. That is nothing really to do with material things or money, but with your spirit. If your heart is not in the right place and you expect to gain something from your generosity, God will not be pleased.
If you are going to give, then give, and if you are not, then don't. Do not give reluctantly and do not give compulsively. Give because you want to give, not expecting anything in return, not because you feel you have to, but because you want to do so out of the goodness of your heart.
Giving, being generous, is supposed to be a joyful thing. Like at Christmas, the time of giving, it is supposed to be a joyful time! So be joyful this Christmas, whether you give a lot or give a little, if you give with gladness of heart, that is what matters and that is pleasing to God.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
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