Always Abounding, Always Generous

Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written:
He has scattered;
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.
Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness, as you are enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. Through the proof of this service, they will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others. And in their prayers for you they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God on you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-15 HCSB ©®)

“Never eat your seed” is wise instruction, directed by many farmers to their sons and daughters. Even if you are hungry now, and it is winter, find another way to survive until spring, so that the seed you are in possession of can be planted and create a harvest for next winter. If you eat next winter’s harvest today, next winter will be worse than you think this winter is.

Your seed represents the connection of your faith and your resources. Part of your resources are not yours – they are for generosity to others. Making sacrifices today by faith in the blessings they will produce tomorrow is walking by faith. Making sacrifices today with confidence that there will be a tomorrow, and that some of its provision sits in the responsibility you take today, you are stating your trust that Yahweh will lead you to provision, to generosity, and to His glory.

“Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. I assure you: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and starts to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 24:45-51 HCSB ©®)