The Joy of Generous Giving

So here, we see this principle of sowing and reaping. You guys are familiar with this, and it it makes sense, and keep in mind, he he's talking to some people who would definitely have understood this because they would have been planting planting seed, they would have been tending to the harvest and taking taking the harvest in. So the thing is, if you're keeping something, let's say let's say you're keeping something, let's say you have some seeds, okay? And and and, you know, when it comes down to it, I have this, I can cook this, and I can eat this now. And and and I need and and a lot of times we think about what we need now. [00:36:25] (33 seconds)  #GrowthIgnoresMotives

this this imaginary man who has been given a container of seeds to plant, and he's growing a garden for his family. And he has those seeds, and and he's feeding his family for an entire year because after sowing the seeds, he brings in the harvest and he has this whole crop to take care of his family. However, let's think for a moment, he doesn't plant the seeds. He just hangs on to them. And he says, you know what? We have the we've been blessed with these seeds, and let's let's have a let's have a nice meal, you know? Let's have a banquet, and and we can just, like, really eat it up and and enjoy this meal together. But then, [00:37:45] (36 seconds)  #SacrificialGiving

So here's what I want you to put. This is on on your sheet. The very first thing is this, we can, we can put it this way. What you reap is what you sow. We know that saying, what you reap is what you sow. And of course, a lot of times we think about like, people who have done wrong, and then they they sow, you know, the the the punishment for that wrongdoing, the consequences for that wrongdoing, we think about that. But I want us to think about it in a positive sense, that what we reap what we sow is what we reap. [00:38:43] (28 seconds)  #CheerfulGiver

Alright? And so, we see this principle all around us. What we have what we keep is all we're ever gonna have, but what we give away, God multiplies. So, we can put it this way, not only will you reap what you sow, but God multiplies and you reap more than you sow. [00:42:46] (16 seconds)  #SowAndReap

Alright? So God loves a cheerful giver. He he's he's he's concerned about our heart in this case. The the Greek word for this word is hilarious. Hilarious. Remember those parents that were laughing? You know, and they were they were enjoying that moment and that's the idea behind it. It it is it's we're enjoying this moment. That that it brings us joy that we even laugh about it, you know? Have you ever had that? We're just so excited and and and maybe other people, they respond with tears, you know, tears of joy and that's the idea behind this. [00:45:01] (30 seconds)  #NotProsperityGospel

The right attitude is to to be grateful for what you have and thankful for what you're able to give back. Now, keep in mind, it doesn't have to be significant if you don't have significant. Remember the widow's mite? Even though her amount was the quantity the quantity was not there, but the amount that she gave based on what she had, what it That was her last bit. Right? [00:45:31] (29 seconds)  #EntrustedToGive

She gave all that she had. It was about that, and then she gave willingly, not under compulsion. She wanted to give. And other people were saying, hey, she should have just kept that because it's not that much anyway. What are we going do with that? She she could have kept it, and it would benefit her. But Jesus, like, rebuked them and said, no. She gave from the heart. She gave willingly and sacrificially because she wanted to. She gave more than anyone else here. And there was people there who had gave a ton of money. Can you imagine how that just hit them? Because they might have gave a ton of money, but the bottom line was, in comparison, they had a ton more, and it really wasn't that much. It was probably pocket change for them. [00:46:00] (38 seconds)  #TimeTalentTreasure

Motives makes absolutely no difference to the farmer. You know, he he he could if he sows and he's doing it because Well, this Let's say for example, you're a hired hand, and you're told to get out there and put these seeds in the ground. And you're just like, I don't wanna do this. I hate this job, this stinking dirt. I'm out here in the sun all day and sweating and I'm hardly earning anything, I'm and just putting it out there. You know what? It makes no difference to that seed, does it? They're gonna grow the same. [00:50:55] (29 seconds)  #MakeTimeCount