Seed to sow. Bread to eat. Sow and reap. Give and be generous. If you have sown, you can expect to reap. And during the waiting time, God provides, too!

The premise: generosity. The promise: provision.

2 Corinthians 9:6 says that “a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”

The bible encourages generous sowing as it yields a generous crop. But even if you’ve only sown small amount, you will also reap. If you’ve sown, even if it were small, you will get a crop. Sowing and reaping has no minimum. It is a working principle, regardless of how much was sown.

The bible continues with the premise of cheerful generosity: “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'” To me, this means that generosity equates to cheerful giving.

And then the bible goes on with the promise of provision: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” God will provide ALL that we need, ALWAYS, and even have PLENTY left to share with others.

Seed and Bread

Verse 10 says, “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat.” I look at the seeds I have here with me… monggo! And I can’t help but ask, could a farmer choose to cook and eat the seeds to get him through the day? And yet a farmer chooses to plant them because he knows planting these will give him so much more crops (and seeds!) at harvest time.

THEN bread. God provides even during the waiting period from sowing to reaping! Bread is ready to eat; no waiting time! The bible doesn’t say God provides seed for the farmer and then flour to make bread! God provides seed then bread! Bread is ready to eat! I’m like screaming! ? If you have sown and are waiting to reap, there’s bread!!!

The Lifestyle that God Sustains

Verse 11 says, “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.” A generous lifestyle is a lifestyle that God sustains. WOW.

And the verse continues, “And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” Verse 12 and 13 goes on, “So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God. As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God.”

While generosity promises a harvest for the sower, ultimately, it is so that the needs of others are met and that God is glorified.

Father, in seeming lack or plenty
May I have a heart that’s ready
Filled with cheerful eagerness
To bless others, regardless

While I know full well
That I will reap what I have sown
That I will want to bless them
To meet their needs and not my own
And that Your name
Is glorified alone