2 Corinthians 9:6-15 What you sow - you reap. The crop will be sometime in the future of the planting. It will be in a greater quantity and it will of the same kind. An important principle for the saved and even for the unsaved -- it happens. Paul is talking about the principle here, because he is planning to come and take an offering for the poor and needy of Jerusalem. Certainly, the most graphic way to see the cause and effect relationship of investment and return is in the spring when you plant a garden, work with it in the summer and in the fall, you reap the results of your efforts. The principle works as you bring your tithes and offerings into God's store house. It works as you invest in the various banks and markets. Equally as important, the focus of our study today i s the return on the investment of our time and talents. When you invest your time and talents in your job, among other things, you reap a pay check. Keep in mind that we can invest ourselves in wicked things as well as good things and we will reap in kind. The obvious fact is that we find it easiest to invest our time and efforts in the areas where our heart is. Our lives tend to be bent in that direction. Heart and investment go together, what if our lives are bent in a direction that we really don't want to be going, is there any hope? Yes, but it's not that easy. First, there needs to be an established and growing faith relationship with Christ. Plan on calling on Him often. There are undoubtedly habits that will need to be starved out and replaced. (Remember what you plant grows and reproduces.) There will need to be changes in associations. Begin investing time and effort in the Word, in worship, praise, fellowship with other believers and in souls. If you persist you will find your desires slowly being bent in this new direction.

Sowing Generously