Seedtime and Harvest

By Andrea Merrell

To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

“I gave an offering last week and nothing happened,” the man said. “What did I do wrong?”

The Bible says when we give, it will be given back to us. It doesn’t say what will be given, how it will be given, or when it will be given. Our part is to sow our seed and leave the rest to God.

Sometimes the harvest takes weeks, months, or even years. It takes time for a seed to grow, especially if we’re not prepared to receive. Chris Tiegreen says, “Many have been surprised that God doesn’t bless them with plentiful resources, but their track record in handling their current resources hasn’t yet revealed their readiness for more.”

But sometimes the harvest comes quickly. I have experienced immediate blessings upon giving. Tiegreen goes on to say, “Never mistake God’s gifts of grace with an easy windfall. His gifts sometimes may appear sudden, but they have usually been years in the making. The receiver must be cultivated and prepared.”

Giving—like everything else in our Christian walk—should be done in faith and obedience. The good news for us is when we sow our seed into good ground, it will produce a harvest in due time. To everything there is a season … A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted. When a farmer plants and tends his field, he knows that when the time is right, the harvest will be there.

Be generous, but don’t just give to get. Give with a cheerful heart. Share what God has given you. When you sow your seed with a pure heart and the right motive, God will richly reward you. Your harvest will be there right when you need it.

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and koko-tewan.)

 

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Be generous and give cheerfully. When you sow your seed with a pure heart and the right attitude, God will richly reward you. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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