“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in
his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Warren Buffett is widely regarded as the best business mind of our time. He’s written books on wise investing, moreover, he’s lived it. A $5,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway (Buffett’s company) in 1965 would be worth over $29 million today. Oh, if only ...
I tend to be a fairly conservative investor; conversely, a good friend of mine is an “all in” kind of guy. While I like to contain downside risk, he confidently pursues upside potential while knowing and managing the additional risk that goes with it. In this world, we cannot have great reward without assuming great risk, nor can we contain risk without also capping our future investment returns. We have to pick our spot along this risk-reward continuum.
In God’s Kingdom, however, the “economy” is different. There, if we sow generously, we will reap generously and, if we sow sparingly, we will also reap sparingly. There, the risk lies in not being “all in.” In God’s Kingdom, who buries entrusted treasure in the ground so as not to lose it, he is the one who loses it all.
What seed do we sow in the economy of God? We invest all we have and all we are. We give of our time and our earthly possessions. We use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that Jesus Christ, though risen, will still be outwardly manifested through his body – the Church – in the world today. We sow faith, hope and love, as these three will remain throughout eternity.
Then what, in turn, do we reap? Paul tells us in today’s passage: all grace will abound to us ... we will have all we need in all things and at all times ... we will abound in every good work ... he will increase the seeds that we sow, and he will increase the harvest of our righteousness ... we will be made rich in every way so that we will be generous in every way.
And people will praise God because of our service! Isn’t that what it’s all about? Aren’t we here for God’s glory? And isn’t it amazing that, in giving up our kingdom for his, we too are blessed more than when we lived for ourselves?
Let us not live lives that culminate in, “Oh, if only ...”, rather may each one of us agree with one another to sow all we have in the Kingdom of God. Let us freely and boldly be “all in” today and every today. God will provide the returns.
In giving of ourselves to others, we lose nothing. In giving of ourselves to God, we gain everything.
Warren Buffett is widely regarded as the best business mind of our time. He’s written books on wise investing, moreover, he’s lived it. A $5,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway (Buffett’s company) in 1965 would be worth over $29 million today. Oh, if only ...
I tend to be a fairly conservative investor; conversely, a good friend of mine is an “all in” kind of guy. While I like to contain downside risk, he confidently pursues upside potential while knowing and managing the additional risk that goes with it. In this world, we cannot have great reward without assuming great risk, nor can we contain risk without also capping our future investment returns. We have to pick our spot along this risk-reward continuum.
In God’s Kingdom, however, the “economy” is different. There, if we sow generously, we will reap generously and, if we sow sparingly, we will also reap sparingly. There, the risk lies in not being “all in.” In God’s Kingdom, who buries entrusted treasure in the ground so as not to lose it, he is the one who loses it all.
What seed do we sow in the economy of God? We invest all we have and all we are. We give of our time and our earthly possessions. We use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that Jesus Christ, though risen, will still be outwardly manifested through his body – the Church – in the world today. We sow faith, hope and love, as these three will remain throughout eternity.
Then what, in turn, do we reap? Paul tells us in today’s passage: all grace will abound to us ... we will have all we need in all things and at all times ... we will abound in every good work ... he will increase the seeds that we sow, and he will increase the harvest of our righteousness ... we will be made rich in every way so that we will be generous in every way.
And people will praise God because of our service! Isn’t that what it’s all about? Aren’t we here for God’s glory? And isn’t it amazing that, in giving up our kingdom for his, we too are blessed more than when we lived for ourselves?
Let us not live lives that culminate in, “Oh, if only ...”, rather may each one of us agree with one another to sow all we have in the Kingdom of God. Let us freely and boldly be “all in” today and every today. God will provide the returns.
In giving of ourselves to others, we lose nothing. In giving of ourselves to God, we gain everything.
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