2 Cor. 9:6-15 In the previous chapter and the beginning of this one Paul is preparing the church in Corinth to be ready when the representatives he is sending come to pick up their charitable gift. The Corinthians had bragged about the gift they were going to send. In Our Scripture today Paul is bringing up some principles for them to consider in making preparation for the soon coming collection. These principles will help us also as we consider how properly to use what we have. Probably the most important thing to consider is verse 10 which tells us that God is the complete source of supply and the One that makes the principle work. He has given us seed, little or much, and has given us the responsibility to use it of lose it. Your seed consists of time, talent and materials. These are for you to use (eat) or invest (plant) in order to gain more to use and invest. A part of the sowing consists of giving to meet the needs of others. Paul in another place said that a person ought to work so that he will have something to give. So often our needs are met in the process of meeting the needs of others. Our giving and the attitude with which it is carried out has a great deal to do with the rate of return. If you do it sparingly then you crop will be small. But if it is with generosity then the return will be in proportion. He goes further, the giving should not only be generous, but also be done with a cheerful attitude. The human attitude is, what you give away, you don't have; and the more you keep the more you do have. This would be true if it were strictly a human situation. The truth is that God gives us the time and talents and the ability to hone them and the wisdom to use them. God is the One who set and causes to work the principle that things planted will grow. Things given will yield a return. We don't have trouble paying money and walking away with the item purchased. Why do we have trouble trusting God with the amount and the when of the return as we give.

Using What You Have