Generosity brings blessings

II Corinthians 9:8-11 (The Message)

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon.  His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.  This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

In II Corinthians 8 Paul discussed the principles of Christian giving (e.g. gifts should come from the heart).  In chapter 9 he provides the promises Christians can claim if we are faithful in our giving to God.  In the first 5 verses, you can read how giving will bring blessings to others.  In verses 6 through 11, your giving will bring blessings to you.

Let’s list the blessings that are promised to you when you give bountifully (v 6) and cheerfully (v 7):

§ God can pour on His blessing in astonishing ways.

§ You will be ready for anything and everything.

§ You will be ready to do what needs to be done.

§ God will give you things that you can then give away.

§ Your life will be full-formed (enriched).

§ Your life will be robust in God.

§ Your life will be wealthy in every way.

§ You will continue to be generous in every way.

Reflecting on all these blessings that come to you because of your generosity, is it no wonder that you can agree with the statement “This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you!”

The question is----are you a generous giver?  Are you giving God the opportunity to bestow all these blessings upon you?  Is there anyone reading these words who is unhappy, unfulfilled, really depressed?  Have you been giving generously?  Are your negative feelings and experiences the result of lack of generosity?  Have you tried being generous?  Will you try being generous?  Generosity, of course, includes giving away a portion of your money, but if you read carefully I Corinthians 8, you will find that giving also includes giving away your time, energy, and other resources for God and others.

Giving will change you, material things won’t.  Think about this.  Act upon it.