Jeremiah 5-7, Psalm 75, 2 Cor 10
4 to 1. That, I am told, is what I should expect as a return on my investment. 4 to 1. That means for every $1.00 that I invest, $4.00 will come back. Not bad. If i had any kind of assurance of that, I would invest every dollar that I have!
I could probably draw a parallel for financial returns when giving money to the church, but I will refrain. Don’t get me wrong, God is intensely interested in our financial giving, but it is only a small component of our generosity. He is also very concerned with how we spend our time and our talents. He wants to use each of these to “reap a harvest of righteousness.” To do so, Paul calls for us to sow our seeds.
“But I don’t have any seeds to sow!”
“I am barely making ends meet now.”
“I don’t have time and I certainly don’t have money”
“What talent? I’m just a ________ “
Paul doesn’t want to hear my excuses. Instead, he reminds me that God will supply all of the seeds. Not only will he supply seeds to sustain my own needs, he will multiply them to “increase the harvest of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 10:10).
What exactly are these seeds we need to sow? Consider the following scriptures. Each of them represents an opportunity for our money, time, or talent.
Ephesians 4:28-29 (ESV).
share with anyone in need.
Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another’s burdens
Galatians 6:6 (ESV)
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches
1 Timothy 6:18 (ESV)
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share
Proverbs 3:27 (ESV)
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
John 9:4 (ESV)
We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV)
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one
I’m willing to bet that God can do immeasurably better than a 4:1 return.