By Allen White
Remember this: Whoever
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Not many of us are farmers any more. In fact, when my father, who
was raised on a farm, took an agriculture class in high school, the teacher
taught them about landscaping their yards. This would be more practical than
learning to farm for most of his students.
We left the agrarian age long ago. We are now in the information
age. If we get hungry, I suppose we can eat our words. But, what we lack in our
understanding of horticulture, we can make up for in our understanding of
sowing and reaping.
Paul’s audience knew the reference well. If you were generous in
scattering seed, you would receive a generous harvest. If you were stingy with
your seed, your harvest would not be as plentiful. This principle was true
regardless of drought, pestilence or other circumstances beyond the farmer’s
control. After all, it rains on both the generous and the stingy. The end
result fully depends on what you have invested.
So, let’s examine our crops. What areas of our lives are
overflowing with abundance? Where are we scraping the bottom of the barrel? If
we have rich friendships, then we have probably sown abundantly in developing
those relationships. If our marriages are hanging by a thread, then guess what?
If God is blessing us and we enjoy an overall sense of well-being, then we have
sown well in our relationship with God.
Now, any relationship with another person is never a hundred
percent on our side. Many of us have loved and lost over the years. It’s not
all up to us. But, the same is true for everyone, yet some people have an
abundance of great friends, while others seem to have none. Those who are
generous with their time, their attention, their resources, and themselves
develop great relationships.
While we don’t give just to get, if we don’t give, then we
shouldn’t expect much in return. Whether we’re sharing our ideas, skills,
resources or ourselves, the generous reap abundantly. Hoarders are limited to
what they have.
What do you have that would greatly benefit another? How can you
help others? What great idea are you sitting on that with the right partner
could be a great success? What are you waiting for?
Those who go through life with a clinched fist, keep what’s
theirs, but struggle to hang onto it. Those who approach life with an open
hand, enrich the lives of others and live abundant lives.
Where do you need to invest? In your spouse and your children? In
an idea or an opportunity? In a friend or a potential friend? Your harvest depends
on what you’re willing to sow.
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