While it’s true that we shouldn’t give with the sole motivation of what we will get in return, any farmer who sows seed into good ground would be quite foolish NOT to expect a return on his investment.
There is a difference between TITHING and GIVING.
The tithe is what we PAY back to God. It belongs to Him. It is His and it is HOLY.
An offering is a gift that we GIVE above and beyond our tithes. It’s a SEED that we SOW and just like a farmer, we can believe God for a harvest from that seed. For what farmer sows and then walks away and never thinks about his crops again?
In the natural, seeds that are sown must be tended to, right?
They must first be sown in good soil.
They must be watered and protected from pests and heat and storms.
How do we accomplish this spiritually?
First of all we must remember that EVERY SEED multiples after its OWN KIND.
It would be foolish to sow tomato seeds and expect cucumbers to come up out of the ground.
When we sow meals, we will eventually reap meals. When we sow clothing we will reap clothing. When we sow furniture we will reap furniture. When we sow kindness and mercy, we will reap those things, too.
And when we sow of our finances, we will reap in that arena, as well.
While the tithe is 10% it’s the same for everyone, and we are simply giving back to God with thanksgiving for what is already His, He then allows us the management or stewardship over the remaining 90%.
Then we are to sow our seeds cheerfully, not grudgingly, (2 Cor. 9:7) and we get the opportunity to be LED OF THE SPIRIT in our giving!
We get to decide the soil we feel led to sow into, and we then must WATER those seeds with our WORDS, coming in line with HIS Words concerning seeds, and we then must REAP by using our mouths to put in the sickle and BRING IN THE HARVEST with gratitude.
It is His NATURAL LAW of SEEDTIME & HARVEST as well as His SPIRITUAL LAW, that WHAT WE SOW WE SHALL REAP.
The incredible thing is if you didn’t know that this law existed and you sowed seed many years ago without knowing how to bring it in, it does not rot in the field like a natural farmer’s crop, but it is still there waiting for YOU to do YOUR PART!
PRAY THIS WITH ME: Father, I thank You for how You have provided for me always! You have never let me or my family down, we have always had enough. Your Word says that You are faithful to provide seed to the sower AND bread for eating (2 Cor. 9:10) help me to distinguish which is which so I do not consume my seed but rather to plant it in good soil so I can expect to receive a harvest. Forgive me for times when I have spoken about lack instead of thanking You for how you’ve provided for my every need. (Phil. 4:19) I thank You, that You said, as I “give, it SHALL be given BACK UNTO ME with good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall mean give unto my lap.” (Luke 6:38) Thank You that You lead me where to sow and that those seeds come back to me in a multiplied fashion so I can fund Your kingdom more and more, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If these concepts are new to you, ask the Lord to reveal His truth in this area as you purpose to study and learn. Feed on the above scriptures because faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word. He is a good Father who wants His children’s needs and the needs of building His kingdom to be met! How wonderful that we GET TO partner with Him in this way! ~Be Blessed, Jenny xoxo
~JENNY RIEFLIN MINISTRIES~ 