2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “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, may have an abundance for every good work.”  NKJV

I have long believed through my study of Scripture and watching people that generosity or the lack thereof reveals a person’s heart.  I am convinced that if God does not have our pocketbooks, He does not truly have our hearts, for where the treasure is, the heart is also.  I know the context of this passage is focused on money, but I want to press it beyond that and do not believe that I am violating truth in doing so.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping goes far beyond monetary consideration.  The principle of reaping what we sow, later than we sow, and more than we sow, whether it is money, time, patience, or love, is a fact of life.  In this truth, God Promises that He will cause All Grace to abound to us so that we have All Sufficiency in All Things and have an abundance for Every Good Work!  That is an incredible promise!

Sadly, some have taken it as a promise of personal wealth and attempted to manipulate God through their giving.  God is interested in the gift and the motivation behind the gift, and His blessings are in accordance with that principle.  It would behoove us to examine what we are giving, why, or what we are not giving and why.  It will reveal our hearts, either good or flawed.

I have personally experienced times when I desperately needed finances and had no means of acquiring those funds.  I recall one such incident where I had a $500 need and 55 dollars to my name.  I do not mean I had that amount of ready cash; that is ALL I had in this world. 

The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said tithe on my need.  My response was, “What? God, I have $55 to last me a whole week, a wife, and two small children to care for.  If I give the $50 you are asking for, I will have $5 left.”  Three times I heard ‘tithe on your need.’  I took the $50 and planned to put it in the offering on Sunday morning, and as the plate came around, I tried but could not turn it loose. 

I spent a miserable Sunday afternoon, and on Sunday night, when the offering took place, I threw the $50 in the offering plate.  It felt like a hot potato that I had to get out of my hand.  I believed God would care for us, but my humanity kept me awake all night battling thoughts of my failure in my responsibility to my family, and they would have little to eat this week if…  That is the problem IF…  

I was in the condition of the man that said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”  The next day after a time in prayer, I went to town to run an errand for the church, and a person walked up to me on the street and said, “The Lord spoke to me last night to give you this.”  They placed an item in my hand and walked away.  I sat in my car and opened my hand, and it was a check for $550.00. 

God met my need and gave me back the $50.00 above the need.  My family was cared for, the need was met, and my faith was given an adrenaline shot that has never been forgotten.  God responded to my obedience and blessed me despite my fears, questions, and doubts. Since then, my giving has been cheerful, and I have not given out of necessity since that day but out of a desire to honor the Lord and help others.

I have faced times when I desperately needed someone to assist, comfort, love, or counsel me and found that the return on my investment in others came back to me many fold.  God Never fails to send help in the time of need, and if we allow Him to control our time and treasure, we will find that Grace will Abound to us in a mighty manner.

God bless you as you go through this day!