Farmers know, you reap what you sow. In a movie called Second Hand Lions, two old adventure seekers settle down in Texas and decide to plant a crop with their nephew. They carefully label the different vegetables from the seeds they plant, only to discover that they all look the same. “Corn, corn, corn,” exclaims Hub, played by Robert Duval. No matter what you plant, that is what you will harvest.
Paul teaches the Corinthians about giving in chapters 8 and 9 of his second letter to them. He reminds them in 8:9 that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ means that though he was rich, Christ became poor so that we through his poverty might become rich. Then he continues in chapter nine encouraging them to plant generously, not sparingly.
The happiest people I know are cheerful givers. The grudging giver misses the blessing even as he gives. But those who give “hilariously” understand what I mean. Generous people give and live with great joy. Eugene Peterson tells of a little bird that would not let go of the branch when its mother tried to teach it to fly. It flipped upside down but held on. But the mother bird was relentless. Only when the bird let go did it begin its purpose of swooping and sailing and soaring. We were made to give. It is in our DNA as believers. “For God so loved the world that he gave.” And aren’t we glad? We are!
