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We come now to the last part of our series about the ministry of generosity. In this chapter, we will be tackling verses 6-15 of chapter 9 which will tell us about the underlying principles of generosity.
In the previous chapter we have learned about some truths of the ministry of generosity. In this chapter, we will learn the people who are qualified to administer generosity and why should these people be the one to administer it.
This chapter will tell us the truths about generosity. We have learned from the previous chapter that the Macedonian churches have exemplified good reputation when it comes to generosity. Thus, Paul now is encouraging the Corinthian churches to follow that example. The following points will tell us the truths about generosity and why our own churches should follow the same example.
The most important thing however is learning the main idea of generosity. For us to understand what does it take to give back to God what is due for Him and to offer it in the “right manner” which the Bible gave emphasis on in the book of Genesis in the story of Cain and Abel. The story tells us that first and foremost, we need to offer God what is due for Him in the right manner. Doing it in the other way around discredits our giving.
To be blessed means to be consecrated, set apart, and highly favored. When God blesses you, He does not leave anything out. It is more than personal happiness, wealth or well-being.
Blessed To Be A Blessing talks about a life living to become a blessing. God blessed us not only to enrich ourselves but to become a blessing to others.
In this ebook, I tackled about the significance of the word “Give” and other related words in accordance to the Bible. The Bible speaks about lots of things about giving. And sometimes, the only thing that hinders God’s blessing is our unwillingness to be a blessing.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked—for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And, let us not be weary in well-doing—for, in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:7-9
Much better is sowing seeds of righteousness than seeds of wickedness and then praying for crop failure.
Somewhere along the line years ago someone coined the phrase “Sowing one’s wild oats.” And, usually when such words are used the one using them is seeking to justify his/her lascivious lifestyle of wanton immorality.
In reality, according to today’s Manna, we’re all in the business of “sowing,” whether we realize it or not. In fact, even now our lives are being groomed for eternity—i.e., we’re either experiencing glimpses of Heaven or already foretasting the bitterness and regrets that await one in hell (cf. Lk. 16:19-31).
Why, then, do so many scoff at this Manna?
Simply because they do not know or fear the One Who wrote it.
And such is always the case with one whose mind is blinded by the evil one and whose ways are foolish before a holy and righteous God (II Cor. 4:4; Ps. 2:1-3; 10:4; 14:1; 36:1-4).
That’s why the Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostle Paul, said/says “Be not deceived; God is not mocked—for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” He then goes on to talk about “sowing to the flesh,” which is giving in to one’s “lusts of the flesh, eyes and pride of life” (I Jn. 2:16). In so doing, one shall “of the flesh reap corruption (Grk. ‘phtroa’—‘decay, ruin, waste, to shrivel up, etc.’).” Simply put, being (as someone said) “One becomes so earthly-minded that he’s no Heavenly good.”
A Step By Step Guide In Becoming A Blessing
We already know that becoming a blessing to others is God’s purpose to every single human being. We also know that God did not only make this system to work entirely for his own benefit, but we have seen that God blessed humanity first and that he continuously blesses those who bless others.
However, there are still lots of people who are having difficulty in doing this noble thing that God intended for us to do. I enumerated four main steps in becoming a blessing.
Please note that I used the phrase “Forget yourself”. The ultimate hindrance to becoming a blessing is being too concern for own self. This is the main reason why we cannot become a blessing to others because of too much love for oneself. Becoming a blessing is more on forgetting your own self and giving the rest to others.
Step 1: Forget yourself and learn to love God above all (Matthew 6:33). 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Sometimes, even Christians fail to love God above all. They gave too much importance to the blessing rather to the giver of blessings which results to idolatry. The passage above is clear enough to remind us that we do not have to worry about anything, but we have to seek first his kingdom. If you remember our lesson last year about “Kingdom of God”, it is not a place, but it is a system.
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