“Now He that administers seed to the sower both ministers bread for your food and multiplies your seed sown and increases the fruits of your righteousness—being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God—for the administration of this service not only supplies the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.”
II Corinthians 9:10-12
As He has said, “You are not your own; you are bought with a price” (I Cor. 6:20) and “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt. 10:8).
Most likely, the Apostle Paul knew what Job had said: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord” (1:21).
That’s why he reminds us in today’s Manna about the Source and Supply of our “seed” and why our generosity in giving reflects highly upon the One by Whose Name we are called. He knew the One “Who administers (Grk. ‘epichoregeo’—‘to fully furnish, supply, contribute, etc.’) seed to the sower will also give you bread for your food and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
Simply put, the Heavenly Father is not stingy in His blessings to us; neither should we be in our giving to others.
Somewhere along the line, while growing up, pride sets in and we begin envisioning ourselves as a “self-made man or woman.” We like to think that everything we have is the result of our own labor. . .the sweat of our brow. . .our prowess and ability. . .instead of God’s blessings. But, again, as Job said, we came into this world with nothing—and we’ll certainly leave that way, for, as someone once said, “I’ve yet to see a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse.”
So true, so true.
That’s why the Heavenly Father will both “multiply our seed sown and increase our fruits of righteousness” when we do it in His Name and for His Honor and Glory (Mt. 10:42). Truly, when we view the one to whom we’re giving as if he/she were Jesus Himself, we can rest assured He’ll be pleased and bless (Mt. 25:35-46). Glory!!
We should also notice the Lord will also “enrich (Grk. ‘ploutizo’—‘to make wealthy, bountiful, make full, etc.’) us IN EVERYTHING to all bountifulness (Grk. ‘haplotes’—‘singleness, sincerity, without self-seeking, generosity, liberality, etc.’), which will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Or, another way to put it is, “Our generosity because of God’s Grace will cause others to also thank Him, which will bring Glory to His Name.”
And, isn’t that a wonderful promise, dear Pilgrim?
Most assuredly it is. Hallelujah!
Yes, when we are “consecrated conduits” of His blessings, we can rest assured that Jesus will be glorified and others will be drawn to Him. Therefore, let us be “liberal lovers” of Christ and others today—for it’s in our giving that which we’ve received that we are blessed.
September 15, 2011
