I often teach about the principles of sowing and reaping. I believe firmly in this principle; I have lived by it most of my adult life.
Galatians 6:7-9 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Genesis 8:22 says, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
As you can see, there is a biblical foundation to believe in the law of sowing and reaping.
Not too long ago, a pastor friend sent me an email that blessed my heart. He explained the difference between sowing seeds and giving love offerings better than I have ever heard.
His email was about a love offering he and his lovely wife personally sent to me. I want to share his wonderful letter with you today…
First – Kim, we do not sow into you and your ministry!
Of course, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with sowing into Kim Potter and/or her ministry, as a matter of fact. I believe TREMENDOUS BLESSINGS result from those who sow into you and your ministry! That just is not what we choose to do.
First Kim, when we give to you it is a TRUE LOVE OFFERING! What do I mean by that? It can’t be written off. We can’t get any earthly credit for it. If we sent it to the ministry, we could write it off.
It is a true Old Testament offering/sacrifice. It is CONSUMED upon the altar, and it cannot come back to give us any earthly benefit later on.
(I do not see anything AT ALL wrong with claiming charitable donations on your tax returns from tithes and offerings.)
In addition, Kim, the word SOWING denotes the expectation of a return.
Understand this Kim, we don’t GIVE to you to GET, we GIVE to you because we have GOTTEN! Our gifts to you are IN APPRECIATION for your faithful ministry.
Our return is the JOY we already have from knowing we can be a small blessing to YOU! If God chooses to bless us for blessing you – that is entirely up to Him. We are YOUR RETURN! Our gifts, though small, are YOUR HARVEST! I pray that your harvest will increase a thousand-fold because of your faithfulness.
I read that letter numerous times and continue to read it each time God brings it to my remembrance. It blesses me tremendously. They gave it because they received something from me. That blesses me.
It also convicts me in some areas. Do I send true love offerings? Do I give consistently because I have been given something spiritual? It truly is something to think about.
The Bible says there is a time for everything – a season for all things. I imagine then there is a time to sow, a time to reap, and perhaps a time for giving true love offerings to those who have sown into our lives.
For those of you who give out daily, I believe it is time for your harvest. May it come to you now, even as you read this. The Bible is clear, we give, and it is given back to us. May the giving back overtake you even this week. To God be all the glory.
