Happiness Reflection Guide – October 10, 2019

Thursday

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:5-7

“⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. ⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ 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.” (NIV 2 Corinthians 9:5-7)

Study: Too many times we give out of a sense of poverty and loss rather than a sense of bounty. Are you giving with bounty in mind or with meagerness in mind? What is your attitude in giving? What is your practice in giving? Paul seems to be stating a law of nature that has spiritual ramifications as well. When you sow your field trying to put in as little seed as possible, the harvest will be meager. But when you sow your field with the maximum harvest in mind, then you won’t scrimp on the seed, knowing that what you give now will come back to you many-fold. It is a matter of having a farmer’s common sense about sowing. We have a great field set before us and we have many seeds. How many seeds will you plant?

Pray: You are generous God. As I live my life, open my eyes to your potential harvest. Show me how I can plant your seeds. Amen.