44 Days Through the New Testament – Day 27

2 Corinthians 8-10

I love the biblical principle that Paul illuminates in 2 Corinthians 9.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV

In the natural world around us, of course this is true. When the farmer invests a small amount of seed, he generally sees a small harvest. When we invest a small amount of energy into anything that we do, we generally see poor results. We often want to get something for nothing, but it simply doesn’t work that way.

I was having a conversation with a friend, recently. We met together to follow-up on a previous conversation. During that previous conversation I recommended a book that he should read. The book is filled with wonderful insight and practical advice. In our recent meeting, my friend informed me that he had bought the book since we last spoke… but he also informed me that he had not read it.

“It doesn’t quite work like that…” I said. 

Of course, I am personally guilty of buying books and not reading them! Perhaps I am the chief of sinners in this regard! But the point is that we will not benefit from buying books. We will only benefit by actually investing the time and energy into reading the book, processing the book, understanding the subject, and applying what we have learned. That is how we practically “sow” when it comes to reading a book. When we do that, we tend to reap bountifully.

And, of course, this is not just true for bookworms, like me. This is just a matter-of-fact truth of life. Work, play, relationships, etc. More often than not, you get out of it what you put into it -except with God, what you put into it is actually multiplied.

2 Corinthians 11-12

Once again, the great Apostle Paul points out a biblical truth that has changed the way that I see the world.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV

I think that this truth goes amazingly well with the truth that we previously pointed out. When we sow generously, we tend to reap generously. But the reality is that sometimes our best energy and effort are just not that great. Let’s be honest. We’re often not that great.

But that’s where God comes in! In our weakness, He is strong.

It is worth it for us to risk for God. It is worth it for us to sow every last ounce of energy into what we know He is calling us to do. When our energy and effort fail to be enough, God is enough. He always has been, and He always will be.