Title: The Key to Everything/ Topic: Giving

Today's Reading: 2 Corinthians 7; 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Corinthians 9; 2 Corinthians 10

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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. 8 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. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 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.

Observation: Giving is the key to unlocking abundance in all areas of life. Paul is talking about giving money, but links giving money generously and happily with God making all grace abound to us so that we abound in every good work (that includes a lot more than material blessing). Paul goes on to say that God, who is the one who gives us “seed” to sow, will increase our supply of seed so that our harvest of righteousness will increase and we will be made rich in every way (again, having our righteousness increase and being made rich in every way includes more than just money). This will result in our being able to be generous on every occasion, giving people what they need when they need it, whether that be material, spiritual or emotional.

Application: Whenever I talk with a Christian who is dissatisfied with their relationship with God and complains about God not giving them what they need I usually get around to asking them whether or not they tithe. I can't recall a time when the answer was a consistent “Yes”. One hundred percent doesn't happen very often in life but that's been true for all the people I've spoken with who seem to always be living with serious lack of provision. I don't believe God punishes people for not tithing, I just believe his Word makes it clear that people who don't tithe or give generously are choosing not to live under his blessing. Their choice to not give simply places them outside of where God's provision flows; not just for finances but for everything. Spiritual understanding and power, as well as money, increase with a cheerful, giving heart. Choosing not to give is choosing lack.

Prayer: Father, I pray that everyone in the Church would learn this simple secret to abundant living. We need your power and blessing to flow to us. The world needs us to live in abundance so we will have both spiritual and material stores to draw from to give to their need. Help us to use the key of giving to unlock the storehouse of blessing you have for us all.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.