2 Corinthians 9:6, 8-10 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully… And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”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,
Seed is referred to in two different analogies in the Bible: the parable of the sower (Mark 4:13-20) where the seed represents the Word of God, and Paul’s teaching on giving and being a steward of God’s finances. Both teachings embody the same principle of sowing and reaping because they both require us to sow in order to reap at harvest time.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Biblical Jews were aware that God was the sole source of their provision. They also believed that God would continue to bless them when they tithed to Him, which is why the second part of the above scripture says their barns would be filled with plenty and their vats would overflow with new wine.
The word “honour” means to show high regard, respect for and so to count as valuable, to esteem, value, or revere. This should be our attitude when we honour God. In fact, honouring God takes on a whole new meaning for us in the New Testament because we have witnessed the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and we are living in the period of grace. We give of our best when we honour God and obey His teaching.
Paul’s teaching in the opening passage encourages us to give and expect to be abundantly supplied by God so that we can continue giving. There is a multiplication effect just like the Word of God that was sown on good soil. Every farmer will testify that there will be a harvest once they have sown the seed in the right season. As such, we need to develop the conviction that as we give, God will multiply the seed that we have sown, and there will be an abundance that is more than enough for us, to tithe to God and to give to good works.
If we make God the source of our provision, it will remove a lot of stress and the need to compromise with the world from us. God is constant and recession-proof. Therefore, let us make God the source and the grace for our lives so that we can fulfil His purpose on earth while being good stewards of His money. God is able to provide what the world is unable to. What’s more, when God blesses us, He adds no sorrow with it.
Sermon Series: The Seed Can be Stolen but It Is Difficult to Uproot the Tree! (Part 3)
上帝总在繁育种子
哥林多后书9:6,8-10 我是这样说:少撒种的，也要少收; 多撒种的，也要多收。神能将各样的恩惠多多的加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，可以多作各样的善事。如经上所记、他分散四方、周济贫穷。他的公义存到永远。”愿那赐种子给撒种的，赐粮食给人吃的，使你们所撒的种多起来，又加增你们公义的果子，
种子在圣经中有两个不同的类比:播种的比喻(马可福音4:13-20)，种子代表上帝的话语，以及保罗关于给予和成为上帝财务管家的教导。这两种教导都体现了播种和收获的相同原则，因为它们都要求我们播种，以便在收获的时候收割。
箴言3:9-10 你要以你的家产和一切初熟的土产荣耀耶和华; 这样，你的仓房必充满有余，你的酒池必有新酒盈溢。
圣经中的犹太人知道上帝是他们供应的唯一来源。他们也相信，当他们向神奉献十分之一时，神会继续赐福给他们，这就是为什么上面经文的第二部分说，他们的谷仓会充满，他们的酒池会有新酒盈溢。
“尊荣”这个词的意思是表示高度重视、尊重，因此认为有价值去尊重，重视或尊敬。当我们尊荣神的时候，这是我们应有的态度。事实上，在新约中，尊荣上帝对我们有了全新的意义，因为我们见证了耶稣基督的救赎工作，我们生活在恩典的时期。当我们尊荣上帝并服从祂的教导时，我们就会奉献出最好的自己。
保罗在开篇的教导鼓励我们给予，并期待神的丰盛供应，这样我们就可以继续给予。这就像神的道撒在好土上一样，有倍增的功效。每个农民都会证明，一旦他们在合适的季节播种，就会有收获。因此，我们需要培养这样的信念:当我们奉献的时候，上帝会使我们所种的种子倍增。所得的收获不仅我们自用绰绰有余，足够向神缴纳什一奉献并且还能奉献给善工。
如果我们让上帝成为我们供应的源泉，就会移除很多压力，也就不需要向世界妥协了。上帝是恒常的，不会衰退的。因此，让我们以神为我们生命的源泉和恩典，这样我们就能在地上成就祂的旨意，作祂的钱财的好管家。神能提供世人所不能提供的。更重要的是，当上帝赐福我们的时候，祂从不加上忧虑。
讲章系列: 你准备好迎接生命中的新事物了吗?