There is always a danger – a danger that we will take all the things in our life for granted. We could either begin to think that we deserve what we have – based on some inherent right as humans, or the effort used to attain what we have, or some obligation we think God has to us. God wants to share his blessings with us. But he doesn’t give so that we can take advantage of him. He doesn’t graciously provide so that we can boast in our strength, wisdom and skill. And he certainly doesn’t give because we hold some magic spell over him.
Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who give cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the scriptures say,
“Godly people give generously to the poor. Their deeds will not be forgotten.”
For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
2 Corinthians 9:6-102 Corinthians 9:6-10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
6 Remember this saying, “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” 7 Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. 8 God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. 9 . The Scriptures say, “God freely gives his gifts to the poor, and always does right.” 10 . God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that you can give even more to those in need.
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Then you will have everything you will need and plenty left over to share with others. God blesses us, and we need not feel ashamed at that. Some would have us all feel miserable because we don’t all have the same income, the same opportunities, the same aspirations. But God has not promised that sort of “fairness”. He has promised to give us abundant lives – lives that overflow with goodness and satisfaction. He has designed a body that can share in each others daily needs, with open hearts and open hands.
God’s provision is a great thing. But it was never intended to enrich ourselves, to make us “comfortable”. It is certainly meant to meet our needs, but it is also meant to be shared. In other words, God gives us more than we need! But that doesn’t mean everything he gives is for our own pleasure and enjoyment. Once again, God gives with an eye to community and relationships.
It really does come down to recognizing the source of all we have. If we think of our pay as something that is our due because of the years of school, the hours spent each day, the skills we have developed…we begin to think that we are the source. This can be incredibly securing, if we are doing well. But it also will cause us to judge others incorrectly. We begin to assume that someone who has less than us is less skilled, less intelligent, less worthy. This train of thought only furthers the idea that, “my stuff is my stuff”. It breeds a feeling that we deserve what we have, and if others don’t have, they don’t deserve; or worse, would probably misuse or squander if they did have.
The idea that we are the sole source of our needs is an affront to the God who is our real provider. I love where Paul writes, For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In that one sentence Paul conveys that the whole breadth of our need and livelihood is caught up in God’s provision. The farmer certainly worked hard. He toiled and sweated, worked long hours and put his whole being into the work. But it is God who provides the input to all our labors – the seed that will become produce in the end. And then that produce eventually becomes the provision for our physical needs. We cannot claim “sole provider” on any of it.
God wants us to seek our security in him, not in our skills and strength. Not that our skills and strength aren’t useful tools – but they will fail us where God will not. They certainly cannot be our security, as limited as they are in the grand scheme of things. I wonder if we would be inclined to trust our own strength and ability if we really saw the outcome as “not our own”? It seems appropriate to consider the fruit of our labors as rightfully ours if we are the only one who will reap the benefits. But God sees the fruit of our labor as a fluid, shared commodity. For this to work out, it cannot be by our strength alone!
As so often is the case as we consider following Christ, God’s provision calls us to think outside our own interests and needs. God’s provision doesn’t just meet a physical need, it calls us to grow in love, grace and kindness. It compels us on to experience Jesus in his fullness.
prayer
Jesus, I thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Help our words and actions to be fruitful. Help us to share the life changing gospel with power and effectiveness. Help us to offer hope to those who can’t find it. Help us to respond to our neighbors’ needs out of love.
Lord, let your spirit be at work in us, growing a healthy and strong body. Help us all to live by the Spirit, and not our own strength.
In all these things we thank you for your presence – what you have done to redeem us and what you continue to do to make us a holy people that brings you glory. Amen.
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