2 Corinthians 9:1-15
The Collection for Christians at Jerusalem
Now it is not necessary for me to write to you about the ministry to the saints, for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever.’
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Reflection:
When we lived in North Dakota, I learned how to spread grass seed (not a skill often useful growing up in Arizona!) The very first time I did it was when we put more dirt in the front yard of the parsonage, in order to landscape it a bit.
Months later, you could still see the effects of my mistake. I begun spreading seed up against the side of the house, and continued out toward the street from there. Up close to the house, not much grass took root. Reading today’s passage reminds me why…
You see, when I first started scattering seed, I was in a mindset of scarcity. I didn’t know how long the seed would last, so I “sowed sparingly.” As I got further away from the house, I slowly became more confident that we would have enough seed. The further from the house I got, the more “bountifully” I sowed.
As Paul says, “the point is this;” if our eyes are always on the reserve, we will always sow sparingly, never sure there will be enough. Instead, we must make a conscious decision to focus on the goal.
This Sunday, we will talk more about how God sows…and how we are encouraged to sow in response. (I’ll give you a hint: I bet the grass in the Garden of Eden was lush and full!)
Prayer: God of all good gifts, inspire in us the joy that recognizes your blessings and is eager to give so that others might be blessed as well. Amen.
