The Law of the Harvest
There are unseen laws of nature that govern our daily existence. For example, the law of gravity affects us every day but we rarely think about it. It doesn’t matter if we are aware or unaware of gravity, we still have to live within its bounds. Just as well, there are unseen laws of generosity that impact our everyday life. Whether or not we live by them, these laws directly impact our lives and those around us for better or for worse.
Teaching Notes
INDEBTED: In _____ we trust
The parable of two farmers.
THE LAW OF THE HARVEST:
The Principle: We REAP what we SOW.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
• We reap in PROPORTION to what we sow.
• We always reap the SAME in KIND that we sowed.
• We never reap in the same SEASON that we sow.
The Practice: Giving is not LOSING but SOWING.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
• Give PRAYERFULLY
• Give STRATEGICALLY
• Give CHEERFULLY
The Promise: God’s PROVISION for those who PRACTICE generosity.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
• God will ABUNDANTLY pour out His BLESSING on you.
• God will meet your every NEED, not your every GREED.
• God will give you MORE so that you can give MORE.
Application: Test God, Try it out!
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Malachi 3:10
I, _________________ _________________, choose to take God up on His challenge-promise and trust Him to meet all my needs. I take this step by committing the FIRST 10% of my income to the Lord for the next 90 days.
______________________
Signed
FURTHER RESOURCES:
The Genius of Generosity by Chip Ingram
The Paradox of Generosity by Christian Smith & Hilary Davidson
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris