By Cindy Phillips
What a man sows, so shall he reap. Luke 6:38 ESV Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. This is a principle set in place in the world. Even the unsaved know this. Some call it “karma”.
A selfish man who finds himself in need will find few to help him. A man who stands by his brother in need will find his brother standing by him when he is in need. James 2:14-17 ESV What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Examine yourself to see what you are sowing. Do you sow mercy or do you judge? Do you give gladly or do you give conditionally? Do you invest in the lives of your brethren or do you just expect them to invest in you? I set the body in place expecting each to do their part for the benefit of the whole. There is no body part expected to do nothing. 1 Peter 4:10 ESV As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Don’t despise the little things. Don’t think your service should be visible or flashy. Put the needs of others above your own and you will never be in need. 1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Be the one who is there to minister and you will find many ready to minister to you. God is faithful.