The Grudging and the Generous

 

 

Our text today talks about two farmers sowing seed. In our sermon series on Money Mattters we are not talking about sowing seed but the gospel message of Jesus Christ. We are not just talking about the sowing of the gospel but our attitude in getting that work done. It takes money to provide for our family, the government the needy and the work of the church. It takes money to share the gospel as we pay the salaries of called workers, missionaries, building, heat, light, and materials to share the gospel 

 

Picture two farmers sowing seed in their fields at the time of the Apostle Paul. At the time of our text there was no modern machinery farmers are used to today with large tractors and large equipment to drill or sow the seed in the ground. What you can imagine at the time of Paul is a farmer with a cloth wrapped over the shoulder. The farmer would scatter seed on the ground.

 

In our text Paul describes two farmers. The one farmer sows his seed sparingly. He is stingy in the amount of seed he puts into the ground, hoping in this way to save a little money. Such action is short-sighted, however. In the end the farmer will be poorer, for sparse sowing results in sparse, meager harvest. The second farmer approaches his work in an entirely different manner. He sows his seed generously. The word generous can mean bountiful or a blessings. The farmer sows his seed generously knowing he will be blessed by that sowing many times over. It would be foolish to be miserly in his sowing. The way to be assured of a bountiful harvest is to be generous in one’s sowing the seed. Paul uses this to open our eyes to our attitude in doing the work of the Lord as we support that work with our treasures.  You might say that we could describe the two farmers as

The Grudging and the Generous.

 

The grudging farmer does not want to give away the seed that he could still use for food. The generous farmer knows that what he puts into the ground will come back to him many times over. You can close your hand and clench your money, but you will not be able to receive so many of the blessings God wants to give you through your generosity. Or you can open a generous hand and find out what so many generous givers have—God blesses a generous “sower” in so many ways!

 Paul is looking beyond the idea giving money to get more money. He is looking at greater blessings than just a monetary return. What he wants the Corinthians to be sure of is that God’s bountiful blessings, which come in various forms will always attend their giving. The Apostle Paul points out “¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

 

 

 

The law of the field applies here. If you don’t give to help put gospel seeds in the ground, you will have little in return. This is not a guarantee to get rich, but God lets us reap in many ways other than the physical or the /economic. The ultimate goal is that God is praised for all that he has done for us and for all people. Generosity comes out of knowing that God is a giver, too. When we believe God is going through a recession, we are hesitant to give anything away. However, when we trust that God has unlimited resources, we won’t mind being generous. Verse 8 assures us that he will provide for his people. ^“ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

 

The Apostle Paul is very blunt about what grudging giving is and at the same time he emphasizes what cheerful giving is. ⁷ Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The size of the gift is up to the giver. The gift process is thought out. The giving is not by force. God loves a cheerful giver—There are really three paths: 1. The cheerful giver (God loves it). 2. The grudging giver (God hates it). 3. The one who doesn’t give (God hates it).

 

This really applies to all that we do as Christians. When we feel burdened and guilt in to doing something we need to go back and look at why we are doing what we have decided to whether it is giving money, time, or abilities. The right motivation comes from an understanding of all that Christ Jesus as so freely done for us.

We rejoice that 141 out of the 221 respondents from the congregational survey said they give a regular, planned portion of their income. I encourage each one of to continue to look at the blessings the Lord gives and ask God to help you to carry out that commitment cheerfully.

 

I thank God for you and the faith in Jesus that God has put into your heart. I thank God that he enables you to live your lives for him each day. I thank God for your generous offerings that enable us to do great things for God in this place called Eastside. I encourage you to continue to give cheerfully and generously as you decide in your heart to give. And the Lord will continue to bless you richly. And God will be praised. In the verses that follow our text Paul reminds us of the truth: Men will praise God when we give. They will praise our example of generosity and many who hadn’t praised God previously will start through our gospel ministry.

 

The Apostle Paul knew who he was. He was the chief of sinners. He had been a murderer and a persecutor. If God had not changed our hearts we would know nothing but the self centered love we are born with in this world. Often at Christmas time we may see the play or the movie of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge was tight fisted with his money but also with his time with others. What did he reap? On the other hand when his life in the past present and future is revealed to him there is a change. Rejoice in the generous and loving God that you have that you may generously and cheerfully give what you decide in your to give. May God be praised.