2 Corinthians 9:10-13
“10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.”
Generosity produces thanksgiving. That sounds logical but how does it work? When I was a young adult, an elder challenged me that I was angry following a broken engagement and other life disappointments. He challenged me to spend the first five minutes after I woke up in focusing on thanksgiving. It was the week of Thanksgiving and one morning I opened my Bible to 2 Corinthians 9. I sat and memorized it.
Now, 50 years later I see certain nuggets of truth. God supplies the strength or the ability to respond to perceived grievances by turning the other cheek. God supplies the strength when I do not have it within me. I do not need to twist into good, a wrong, but because of God I can try to act generously towards the offender. I can be my better self with his strength because my tank is on empty.
Not only does God provide the seed but God also multiplies it. If we do try to the best of our ability to respond as God would have us respond, then we can relax because the results are in his hands. God is working. The verse also says there is a boomerang affect. We will also be enriched by being generous.
Generosity is going beyond the required response, blesses the others, helps us loose our grip on the results, blesses us and ultimately results in thanksgiving to God. Responding generously to others is a way of valuing others and that produces thanksgiving to God. Lord, help my responses to be generous, valuing others. V is for ….., A is for ……, L is for ….., U is for ….., and E is for ……. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 