In Pt.1 we primarily discussed the law of sowing. We talked about the seed and how God ordained seed to have life in itself from the very beginning starting in the book of Genesis. We also discussed how the whole purpose of the seed was to produce after its own kind.
Genesis 1:11 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’’; and it was so. 12. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
In Pt. 2 I want to look at and focus in on reaping. There is much said in God’s Word on this subject. Some have jumped in on this and said this is greedy Christianity. That may be so if the Christians who are trying to operate under this law have greedy motives and are out to try and manipulate God’s Word in an attempt to create wealth for themselves. Your motives would be wrong. God sees our heart. Greed and covetousness is a sin and He does not bless it, He just doesn’t work that way. He is a giver of the highest magnitude. He gave so that He could get, but His motives were based out of the highest form of love, He gave to get us. When we get to the point where we are giving out of love to promote God’s business and further His kingdom, then we are sowing in such a way that places us in a position to reap a great harvest.
We all know John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God so loved that He gave. You might say, yea well what’s your point. God gave because it was the only way to receive His most valuable harvest, eternal life for His greatest creation, man. If The seed had not fallen into the ground and died and was reborn, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins.
John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
This was the most unselfish gift ever given, and this certainly was giving for a specific goal in mind. In order for God to reap the great harvest, He first had to sow. I hope you see my point in this. Is this greed or selfishness on God’s part? Absolutely not! The complete opposite is true. This was sowing for a purpose, a great harvest of eternal life for us all. If we are out to try and build great storehouses of wealth for ourselves we are operating outside of the purpose of God. The whole purpose of sowing is so that we can reap a harvest, and the whole purpose of the harvest is to what? Ask yourself what would happen if a farmer planted 1000 acres of soybeans, then when harvest time came around he did nothing. He wouldn’t harvest them or for some reason he could not harvest them, and he just let the soybeans rot. You would probably say that this farmer was not a good steward. What farmer would spend that much time and effort and money and do absolutely nothing at harvest time? I can’t imagine this kind of thing happening in the natural, no farmer would allow that to happen. No, the whole purpose of sowing the soybeans is so that you could reap the harvest that would come from your effort. There is a definite purpose for all this effort. Yet when it comes to spiritual things we say well, I don’t want anything in return. YOU SHOULD! This is how God builds His kingdom, and He uses us to do it. Who else is He going to use? We’re it, He doesn’t have anybody else.
If you are sowing in obedience to God’s Word and His will, then He wants you to reap a harvest. You will take that great harvest and then have the ability to do even greater things for God’s kingdom.
This is not greed or impure motives, it’s sowing in obedience to God’s Word for the purpose of building up God’s kingdom. If you want to build up God’s kingdom then you have to have the wherewithal to accomplish God’s goals, and it must be done God’s way, not your way. Religion would tell you to give in order to earn your way and be accepted, we are already accepted, we have been made accepted in the beloved Christ Jesus. (Eph:1:6).
We are not out to earn our salvation, or prove ourselves by our works, we couldn’t do that even if we wanted to, so quit trying. We sow out of obedience and a willing heart. We sow by faith, we harvest by faith, and we receive the rewards by faith. You see it is impossible to please God any other way. We could labor all our lives, and even accomplish some things in the natural, but if we are not building according to God’s plan and purpose then the labor is in vain. Psalms 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can accomplish great things for the kingdom of God if we begin to follow His precepts.
2 Corinthians 9:6. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work. 9. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness remains forever.’’ 10. 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, 11. while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
God has ordained increase in this fashion. But we see there is a specific purpose for the increase. That purpose is not just to bless you alone, but to be a blessing to all the saints. We see this in the Scripture we just read in vs.10-12. 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. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
I like the way The New English Bible says this so very clearly… starting in vs. 10. Now He who supplies seed for sowing and bread for food will provide the seed for you to sow; He will multiply it and swell the harvest of your benevolence, and you will be rich enough to be generous, Through our action such generosity will issue in thanksgiving to God, for as a piece of a willing service this is not only a contribution to the needs of all of God’s people; more than that it overflows in a flood of thanksgiving to God.
You see, in the process of giving out of a willing and obedient heart, you will be blessed as well. That is the way God works, He loves to bless; He wants us all to be blessed and to be a blessing. But, blessings always start with obedience to His Word. We should always give out of a willingness to be a blessing and that truly is being obedient to God’s Word. When you walk this way you will have the means enough to be generous, as the Word we just read says.
Let’s go back and starting with vs. 7 in the New English Bible. God loves a cheerful giver. And it is in God’s power to provide you richly with every good gift; thus you will have ample means in yourself to meet each and every situation, with enough to spare for every good cause. Glory to God, what a way to live, to be in a constant state of being a blessing and being blessed in the process. I don’t know about you but that is the way I want to live, to always have enough to help out my brothers and sisters in Christ and to sow wherever God would direct me and to have plenty left over. I can honestly say I haven’t gotten to the level I want to be, but I am working on it. This is not a get rich scheme but a way of life that God has ordained in His Word. I believe many of us have never looked at this message in this light, but it’s time to see the light of God’s Word and begin to walk in it. There is always balance in the things of God, we must keep first things first.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
There is truly a great harvest out there and it is going to take dedicated children of God who know their purpose and know God’s Word in order to fulfill God’s plan in these last days.
We have freely been given all things… (1Cor:2:12) (Rom:8:32).
Because of this we can in turn, turn around and give to others. We are blessed to be a blessing. This is an act of faith in God and His Word. We can give knowing that with what we have purposed to give, it will be given back to us. Some sow and others may do the reaping but you always sow for the harvest. You always harvest for a purpose. What would be the purpose of a great harvest if you could not use it to feed the multitudes. It would be nothing but a waste.
This is something that you have to prepare for. Let’s go back to our example of the 1000 acres of soybeans. After all this work the farmer harvests his crop, he must have a place to store the crop until it is sent to the market or wherever it goes for processing. Since soybeans are used for many food applications, there would be several places for the harvest to be sent. In the meantime you have to have a place to store what you have harvested. If you know the approximate total volume of soybeans you are going to harvest then you would have to have at least that much storage space, weather it be in silo’s or barns. You wouldn’t harvest 1000 acres of soybeans then only have enough space to store 100 acres worth of soybeans would you, not if you were a good steward of your farm. That would be a tremendous waste wouldn’t it? Not only of time and energy but of the whole purpose of sowing in the first place, and that being the harvest. God wants us to be good stewards of the seed He has given us. He wants us to have a great harvest so that we can build up his kingdom.
Deuteronomy 8:18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day.
We are not in this to just so that we may get wealth for ourselves. When we are doing this out of a pure heart and obedience, we will have ample means in ourselves to meet each and every situation, with enough to spare for every good cause.
-- Living Bible
Luke 6:38 For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will be used to measure what is given back to you.’’
This is God’s way. It hasn’t always been mans way, but we are all learning and we are all in process. Let’s take what we have learned, and in obedience build God’s kingdom. Amen.
