Generosity

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:

L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corp., who had given approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, “The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.” (W. A. Criswell, A Guidebook for Pastors, p. 154).

In these verses Paul points out principles found in the Word of God as well as those drawn from experience to show why and how we are to give.

1. The givers are blessed (vv. 6 10).

2. The receivers needs are met (vv. 11 12).

3. The Lord receives glory (vv. 13 15).

Warren Wiersbe says, "Giving is not something we do, but something we are." When the material things of life are placed first, God is usually excluded, but when the "kingdom of God" is placed first (Matthew 6:33), God sees to it that all of our needs are met (Philippians 4:19). The following principles of life can be seen in this passage:

1. We reap what we sow (v. 6) Just as the more seed a farmer sows, the better chance he will have for a bigger harvest; the more we invest in the Lord’s work, the more "fruit" will abound to our account (Philippians 4:10 20).

2. We reap as we sow with right motives (v. 7) Whether the farmer’s motive for reaping is money, pleasure or pride makes very little difference. However, the Christian’s motive for giving is very important and God cannot bless the giver unless his heart is right.

3. We reap even while we are sowing (vv. 8 11) The farmer has to wait for his harvest, but the believer begins to reap a harvest immediately as he invests in the Lord’s work.

APPLICATION:

I need to consider if I am a generous sower or is it something I do reluctantly. I always need to be looking for opportunities to get the gospel out.