GIVINGIN THE GRACE ZONE

SMCC Stewardship Series:

Recap

• God created/owns/rules over everything.

• Man created/owns/rules nothing apart from God.

• Only God can convert our resources into joy, blessing, or salvation.

God’s Universal Laws• “Fish discover water last.”• We have a tendency to take for granted the laws

of nature that God has placed around us.• We suddenly discover these laws once we run

afoul of them.• These laws apply equally to all of God’s creation

– believer and unbeliever alike.

God’s Universal Laws• Ever heard of karma?• Even the secular, neo-pagan world is aware of

the inescapable truth contained in God’s Word:• Galatians 6:7– Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man

reaps what he sows.• We are all subject to this truth, no matter what

we call it.

God’s Harvest Law• Investment– We reap only if we sow.

• Identity– We reap only what we sow.

• Increase– We reap more than what we sow.

• Interval– We reap later than we sow.

Investment• We reap only if we sow.• 2 Corinthians 9:6– Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also

reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

• God’s providing hand is demonstrated in the law of increase. One kernel of corn, if planted, can produce a hundred-fold or more return.

Investment• Key Term – “If planted.”• The kernel does not grow into a plant if framed

and put on a wall.– (The mystery of “MIB” collecting.)

• The seed is not planted when we focus on and admire what we have now rather than acting on what it can ultimately produce.

Investment• John 12:24– I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to

the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

• Jesus, of course, is speaking of Himself.• His words beautifully span the physical and

spiritual applications of the principle.

Identity• We reap only what we sow.• Galatians 6:8– The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from

that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

• In simplified terms:– If you want corn, you need to plant corn.

Identity• Why are we surprised about the product of the

harvest when we are sowing:– Anger– Unforgiveness– Disbelief– Stingyness– Selfishness– Dishonesty

Identity• What rewards would you expect to reap when

you are sowing:– Joy– Forgiveness– Belief– Generosity– Selflessness– Honesty

Increase• We reap more than we sow.• 2 Corinthians 9:10– Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread

for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

• We should not presume to apply the law of increase simply to money.

Increase• Remember last week’s discussion about

conversion. Money is the very least among the commodities compared to joy, blessing, righteousness, and salvation.

• So, what does God promise in the area of increase, and what can we expect from it?

Increase• Matthew 19:29– And everyone who has left houses or brothers or

sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

• Although God often responds to faithfulness with financial blessing, what other commodities can we expect from him?

Interval• We reap later than we sow.• A farmer does not take the sickle to the fields

the day after he has planted the seeds.• Galatians 6:9– Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the

proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Interval• Modern life has taught us to covet instant

gratification.• The returns on the surest of investments

increase in proportion to time.• Retirement savings teaches us to be patient.• Free tip from modern headlines. Don’t put

100% of your retirement portfolio into your company’s stock 6 months before retirement!

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:10– Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread

for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

• We prosper spiritually and financially.

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:13– Because of the service by which you have proved

yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

• We prove our love for God.

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:12– This service that you perform is not only supplying

the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

• We provide for those in need.

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, 15– You will be made rich in every way so that you can

be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. … Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

• We provoke thanksgiving to God.

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:14– And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out

to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

• We promote prayer in our behalf.

The Products:• 2 Corinthians 9:8– And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so

that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

• We purchase greater opportunity to give.

The Perfect Example• God provided the absolute perfect illustration of

His harvest law through His Son, Jesus Christ:– What was more precious to Him than His Son?– He sowed His only Son into humanity.– This Seed was placed into the ground, rose up after

a period of time, and produced a crop beyond measure or comprehension.

Scriptural Applications• Revelation 2:4-5– Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your

first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

• What does this passage tell us about God’s harvest law?

Scriptural Applications• 2 Corinthians 8:13-15– Our desire is not that others might be relieved while

you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

Scriptural Applications• What new commodity is defined as a product of

God’s harvest law?• How is this equality achieved?• What does this equality accomplish?

Application Questions• Do you see the correlations between

preciousness, patience, and production?

• What seed do you have framed on the wall instead of buried in rich soil?

• Are you pleased with what you’re reaping today? How will you plant differently?