Proverbs 11:24 (NASB) 24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
As the Moody Blues once said, "it's a question of balance isn't it." Well, let me add this, not only is it a question of balance, but...it's a mystery. "What are you ranting about Ronnie?" "What? Why God's economic program of course." Let me once again share this anecdote with you.
When I was driving on the road, one day while in the passenger seat with my good buddy, Scott Edgin was driving, we were marvelling at the row upon row, acre upon acre, MILE UPON MILE, of corn. It went on forever. And this was but a small patch of Indiana and Illinois that we were looking at. It was mind boggling. One day while in the passenger seat God spoke this truth to my heart. "There's enough for everyone. I designed it that way. It was only when man put a price tag on it, that things went haywire."
That simple fact, doggedly pursued by man in his greed, over the centuries is why today, we speak in terms of "class warfare, scarcity, and the 1%'ers on and on and on. Can I get an amen? At any rate here's my take.
Look at the title of the message. We all fall into one of those two categories don't we? Either we are givers or we are takers. And there is nothing wrong with either. That is the way it is designed to work. It's like Paul said in 2nd Corinthians, there must be an equality.
2 Corinthians 8:13-15 (NASB) 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."
When I have an abundance, I give to supply your need, and vice versa.As long as we are maintaining that balance in our lives, the plan works. We run into problems when we skew God's plan. And let me say this, not only to you, but for my sake as well. We rarely get out of balance on the giving side. You hearin ' me?
Listen, the only people who truly know if you and I are givers is you and I..... and God. Now this is for another time but let me say this here and now.....we can be tithers but not really be givers. Maybe I will take that up at a later date, not now. Anyway, where was I?
I remember my mother on any number of occasions in her life, telling me how, because of her tithing, God had miraculously sustained her those many years after my stepfather died. She would recount story after story(remind me sometime to tell you about how God moved the Social Security Administration on Memaw's behalf) of God's provision in her times of need. She didn't know HOW He did it, HE JUST DID IT!....TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME!! But, she was quick to add that it was because of her TITHING AND GIVING that God moved in her situations.
That's the mystery isn't it? Look at the above verse again.
Proverbs 11:24 (NASB) 24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.
It doesn't make sense does it? You SCATTER and yet increase.
Scatter- "to throw loosely about; distribute at irregular intervals: to scatter seeds.
Now get this. Back in King Solomon's day, seed was money to most. Israel was a farming community. Your seed was precious, because without it, you couldn't grow any crops to eat and to trade with others for the stuff you needed. With that noted, get this picture of Israel's version of Johnny Appleseed planting his crops. He's walking along scattering his seed. Yes, he's planting his ground, but, just to invoke God he plants a little of his seed into his neighbors field. He's throwing it loosely about. You see him doing that and you think "well, that's just plain stupid! Johnny's
giving some of his seed to his neighbor. He shouldn't do that, he needs ALL of his seed for him and his own."
Ahh....but wait a minute. Maybe, just maybe, Johnny knows something you and I don't. Maybe he has read that above verse and decides that God knows what He is talking about. And low and behold, as time goes on, through good times and bad, up and down when others are experiencing hardship and famine, ol' Johnny is getting by. He always seems to have enough....and some left over for his neighbors if they are in need. You look at it and you don't know exactly HOW Johnny does it. He didn't win the lottery. His rich uncle didn't die and leave him a fortune(although God will do that and He actually does do it many times) But, somehow Johnny is always there with a helping hand if we need it. THAT, brothers and sisters is the mystery of God. That is the secret of giving of your seed to others.
Don't ask me how. It can take as many forms as God is willing to perform. An unexpected windfall. A great deal or deals. Miraculously multiplying your seed(dollars to you and me) Who knows how God will do it. All that matters is that He DOES it!!
Now, you don't have to be a giver. No, God isn't going to beat you or send you to hell if you don't give. Nope. However, if you choose to keep and eat all of your seed, you are placing yourself outside of God's boundaries for blessing. Once again, look at the last part of that verse. It contains the "flip side" of God's economic policy.
"......one who withholds what is justly due........results only in want"
Once again it is a mystery. You keep everything to yourself and try and hold onto all of it, and it will sprout wings and fly away. Don't ask me why. I don't know. It is God's economics not mine. It doesn't make any natural sense, but let me ask a question. How's our current economic wisdom working for you?
Folks, God doesn't want your's or my money. HE DOESN'T NEED IT. If we don't follow His plan and become givers, He will find others who will. It will be our loss, not God's. He is going to work His will in this earth with or without our help. He wants to bless us materially and His way of doing that is for us to become givers. Not only that, He wants to dazzle us with the infinite number of ways that He can bless and prosper us. It's a mystery and that's the way God likes it. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 126:1-6 (NASB) 1
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.
4 Restore our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
6 He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
God Bless
Awesome word bro
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