DAD'S RAMBLINGS – STINGY WITH GOD
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: 'He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.' Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God" ( II Corinthians 9:8-11)
In his exhortation to the believers in Corinth, the Apostle used a metaphor to help them understand the principle of giving. It is the farmer who sows his seed for a future harvest.
First, God has supplied the seed to sow. Everything comes from God. He is our source – not the government nor the retirement fund. God provides through them, but He is the ultimate giver of all good things.
Second, the person who has been entrusted with resources is responsible to use those resources to sow seed in order to bring a crop.
Thirdly, God brings the increase as the sower is faithful. If the sower holds on to the seed and does not spread it abroad, he limits the reaping of the crop.
Jesus taught these same principles. He said, "Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).
I have a sneaky suspicion that if we are stingy with God, He will be stingy with us. Plus, liberality brings forth praise and thanksgiving from other people to God. God is blessed when we use His resources wisely.
A person who is not controlled by money can experience true financial freedom.
Love, Dad
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