10 August 2015 - sowing lessons

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

We are wary of being taken advantage of these days. There are a million causes which vie for our attention. We are on guard for all money grabs and anything requests that seem disingenuous. We must be on our guard. If we are not we are quickly exploited. Even among legitimate causes there are more than we can possibly support. Yet being on guard we run the risk of shutting ourselves off entirely. We run the risk of being unavailable even to legitimate needs and requests with which we could help. We may still give in these cases, but not out of our need as the woman does when she gives her last two mites (cf. Luk. 21:1-4). It isn't that we are being called to give our last two mites, but we must at least be open and vulnerable to that if we are called. We can't be so protected that we can only give out of abundance. Otherwise we become unable to sacrifice. We give only when it is convenient.

We are called not merely to sow seeds superficial and external to ourselves. We are called to do what Jesus does and to sow our very selves.

Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

This is the secret to kingdom agriculture. This is how love works. It gives from who it is not merely from what it has. We become so protective of who we are that we are only able to give what we have. And such giving makes little difference, ultimately. It addresses things in a way which is temporary and lacks power.

Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.

This is not sorrowful or dour. "God loves a cheerful giver". What that means is that he himself gives us the power to give from our very selves and yet remain cheerful.

Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.

When we let ourselves be this open we experience the fidelity of God as he provides for us.

An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.

We experience the blessings promised to those who are gracious and lend to those in need. Our horns are exalted in glory.