Skip to main content

Reminder



“And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness: ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God. For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God”  2 Corinthians 9:10-12


We all need reminders;  I am no different. I attempt to write everything down, but I forget to do that sometimes. Reminders are so valuable because they call our attention to a task, a medication, or even a dear loved one. Reminders are given throughout the Word of God that call our attention to a sentiment that should be in our hearts all year long, thanksgiving. 

The Lord Provides 

Paul reminds the Corinthians of the overwhelming blessing of God. The blessing of God is not isolated to a season of harvest but is seen continually. Why does he remind us of this? It is a reminder of the fact that God is the source of all of our blessings. Yes, we get up, go out, and work to earn a living, but the Lord sustains us. He not only supplies us with what we need, He multiplies it. This is not a health and wealth gospel that is seen in nature. The sower sows seed in spring. A crop grows throughout the summer, and in autumn comes the harvest. The seed to produce more is within the harvest. All of this starts with God's creation. When we give, God returns blessing on the giver. We continually replenish our ability to give by our work.

Thanksgiving for Abundance

In recent months, we have been made aware of shortages in products within our nation. We also have felt the pinch on our pocketbooks due to the inflation that is affecting our economy. Right now would be a good time to be reminded of all that we have. When we reflect on all that God has done, the heart of thanksgiving is not isolated to a man-made holiday in November. It is an attitude that helps us to give sacrificially with faith. The psalmist wrote, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed (Psa 37:25-26).” As Jehovah continually gives, Paul urged the continued liberality in giving by the Corinthian Christians. Their giving would meet the needs of the poor Christians in Jerusalem and would cause thanksgiving to be given to God.

Christians today must remember that worship of God is the main purpose of our giving (1 Cor 6:2; 2 Cor 9:7). Our purpose must be for God to be glorified and never ourselves. We are but stewards of all that God has given us. 


Grace and Peace, 

R.D. Beavers 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Raise an Ahaz

           Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.   And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4                   When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

At the Feet of Jesus

          How amazing it must have been to sit at the feet of Jesus. Have you thought much about that? What would it have been like to be around the Master? It was obviously life altering for His disciples, the majority of which (by historical accounts) would go on to violent deaths. Christians would go on to be persecuted throughout the centuries. Why? Jesus is worth the shame (Acts 5:41). Jesus is worth it all, because “there is no other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is for this very reason we think about how amazing it would have been to personally sit at the feet of Jesus. To Talk to Him Must Have Been Tender           Talking to Jesus must have been so tender. We know that He would tell people what they needed to hear, and sometimes that was rather forthright (see Matt. 23), but he was loving and compassionate to those who wanted to learn from Him. Remember when parents were b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hanging On

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God  Hebrews 12:1-2      In order to hang on, you must let go. This seems counterproductive at first glance. If we let go, we might fall and get hurt. If we let go, we might hurt someone else, and we might even hurt ourselves. Yet, letting go can also allow us to hang on to what matters.       We can hang onto the righteousness of God. This helps us to run with patience. When the race is long and arduous, and when life doesn’t end up as we planned, we can look forward to letting go of the doubts and sins that tell us to quit, give up, and stop running...
Post a Comment
Read more