Memorise: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6
Read: Luke 21:1-4
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Bible in one year: 2 Kings 10-11, Acts 10:24-43
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. It may interest you to know that a great number of Christians and Bible scholars do not understand or refuse to understand the deeper meaning of today’s memory verse.
2. What does it means to sow sparingly? Sowing sparingly is the act of giving only a little back to God from the resources He has blessed you with.
3. How do you quantify “little”? Little means the smallest part of a thing. Sowing sparingly is therefore giving just the smallest part of what you are able to give to God.
4. An illustration of how we are expected to give can be seen in Luke 21:3-4: “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”
5. The above scripture can be described as the mathematics of giving from God’s perspective.
6. The quality of your giving is hidden in what remains in your pocket after you have given to God.
7. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that the rich give unto God out of the abundance of what we have (I align myself with the rich in verse 4 because I want to be numbered among the flourishing); whereas, the poor among us, in spite of their need, give all or almost all that they have. This clearly tells us that those of us who are rich should not compare what we give with what others give because we are not all operating on the same level of prosperity.
8. Do you know that in the parable of the unprofitable servant, if the servant who received five talents had only gained two additional talents, he would have received less commendation than the servant who received two and gained two more (Matthew 25:14-30)? To whom much is given, much is expected.
9. This is the reason why it is dangerous to indulge in self-comparison with others.
10. The story of the giving widow also shows that it is wrong for us to despise the poor for giving the little that they have. More often than not, they have given a higher percentage of what they have compared to the rich amongst us.
11. Unfortunately, in our churches today, we no longer see the type of outburst of appreciation that Jesus Christ expressed over the action of the poor widow. Sadly, instead of commending, we rather despise those who give out of their poor condition.
12. Beloved, the question is, after you have dropped your offering, how much do you have left for wants (not needs)?
13. I appeal to you sow bountifully into the work of God’s kingdom when next the opportunity comes your way, and you will reap bountifully in Jesus’ Name.
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
The Holy spirit through our father in the Lord Pastor E.A Adeboye has revealed an area to be taken care of in our giving in today’s devotional. A lot of believers sow or give from their convinience zone. Many could do far more than they did but they keep what will be enough to sustain them before letting go of the little or plenty they sow. Only those that yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit as regards giving soars in their finance. I refuse to sow sparingly in Jesus name. We pray that God will uphold and prosper Pastor E.A Adeboye in all His ways in Jesus name.
Prayer Point:
Father please give me a liberal heart so that I can always sow bountifully into the work of Your Kingdom and into the lives of brethren
Hymn
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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Joesphine Ehigie
TJ