2 Corinthians 9:6,10 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.…Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.
The biblical financial principle of sowing and reaping is not difficult to understand because we all know that we will have a harvest after we sow. We shouldn’t expect a harvest if we have not planted any seed, and the extent of the harvest will depend on how much seed we have sown. The more we sow, the more we will reap. Once we have proven to be faithful with the little, God will entrust us with more so that we can increase the fruits of our righteousness through giving. We need to remember this biblical financial principle so that you will trust in the Lord and not in the world.
Luke 6:38 (NKJV) Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
A faithful steward of God’s finances should not hoard money but be sensitive to what the master wants him to give. God will multiply the seed we have sown so we can continue giving to various causes.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
The Greek word for “cheerful” equates to hilarious. Therefore, we should be excited and hilarious about the opportunity to give. Giving helps us experience God and His faithfulness. It is also an avenue that God has given us to partner with Him in ministry. Moreover, we should be thankful that He has chosen to entrust us with abundance so we can excel in every good work and increase the fruit of our righteousness. It is an act of righteousness whenever we choose to give to a good cause, whether it is to bless the poor, support missionaries, or any other worthy causes that God has placed in our path.
If we want to be imitators of Christ, we should excel in giving because giving is very much a part of God’s nature. God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus to redeem us from our sins. Christ gave us His life in exchange for our souls. Therefore, we should be cheerful whenever we can provide because it helps us express God’s nature that is within us.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Therefore, let us all be generous Christians, fulfil our responsibility to pay tithes to the Lord, and respond by cheerfully giving every time the Holy Spirit moves our hearts to give.
Sermon Series： Christian Generosity
快乐地给予
哥林多后书9:6,10 少种的少收，多种的多收。这话是真的。那赐种给撒种的，赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们仁义的果子。
圣经中关于“种与收”的财务原则并不难理解，因为我们都知道播种后会有收获。如果我们没有播下种子，就不应该期待收获，收获的多少取决于我们播种的数量。播种越多，收获也就越多。一旦我们证明自己在小事上忠心，上帝就会托付我们更多，让我们能够通过奉献结出更多义的果子。我们需要记住这个圣经财务原则，这样你就会信靠主，而不是信靠世界。
路加福音6:38 你们要给人，就必有给你们的。并且用十足的升斗，连摇带按，上尖下流的，倒在你们怀里。因为你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们。
忠心管理上帝财务的人不应囤积金钱，而应留意主人希望他奉献什么。上帝会倍增我们播下的种子，使我们能持续为各种原由而奉献。
哥林多后书9:7 各人要随本心所酌定的。不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。
希腊语中“快乐地”的意思等同于“兴高采烈”。因此，我们应该为奉献的机会感到兴奋和欢欣。奉献帮助我们体验上帝和祂的信实。这也是上帝赐予我们的一个途径，使我们与祂同工服侍。此外，我们应该感谢祂选择将丰盛托付给我们，使我们能在各样善工上卓越，并加增我们更多义的果子。每当我们选择为善事奉献，无论是祝福穷人、支持传教士，或上帝安排在我们路途上的任何其它配得的原由，这都是义的行为。
如果我们想效法基督，就应该在奉献方面表现出色，因为奉献是上帝本性的一部分。上帝如此爱我们，甚至赐下耶稣来将我们从罪中赎回。为了换取我们的灵魂，基督把祂的生命赐给了我们。因此，每当我们能够奉献时，都应该心存喜乐，因为这能帮助我们表达出我们里面上帝的本性。
耶稣说：“施比受更为有福。”（使徒行传 20:35）因此，让我们都成为慷慨的基督徒，履行向主缴纳什一奉献的责任，并在圣灵感动我们奉献的时候，以乐意奉献来回应。
讲章系列: 基督徒的慷慨
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