Listen

What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop.

Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work. As it is written, He scattered everywhere; he gave to the needy; his righteousness remains forever.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Think

It seems simple: few seeds = a small garden. Lots of seeds = big garden. And big = good! Right?

But Paul wasn’t looking at the number of seeds we start with, or even the size of our harvests. He was looking at human hearts, our willingness to plant generously and grow abundantly. One gardener with just a few seeds can plant them cheerfully, seeing each one as a blessing packed with potential. Thanks be to God! Another gardener with a barn full of seeds may be stingy and plant only a few – and feel grumpy about each one! That’s nothing to be thankful about.

When Paul said “you will have everything you need,” he wasn’t talking to individual gardeners. He was really saying “y’all” (in Greek!). Good news: we are “y’all!” You are not planting and growing alone; we are planting and tending and growing together. God provides all our seeds, so together we can work to grow goodness and grace – more than enough blessing to share.

Nikki Finkelstein-Blair

Pray

Thank you, God, for every tiny seed you provide to me, and thank you for trusting me to care for the gifts you give. Help me to tend them well and to see each one as a blessing of your goodness and grace. Help me to share with joy. Amen.

Go

Give thanks to God, who has come with you all this way.

Give thanks to God, whose presence surrounds you now.

Give thanks to God, who is already preparing you for the road ahead.