| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this passage from 2 Corinthians, Paul's use of the word "bountifulness" is in reference to the rewards of sowing and reaping. When we share the love of the Lord with other people, encouraging them in Him, we are sowing good seeds. These seeds will reap the fruits of righteousness and we will, as the verse says, be "enriched in every thing to all bountifulness." As a result, we will express our thanks to the Lord. What exactly does that mean and how does it apply to us today?
Think about the good seeds that you have the opportunity to sow day after day. Has God placed people in your life whom you should minister to? Do you have a talent or ability that would serve the local church? Do you have savings that might be put to good use around the world? Ask the Lord what fertile ground might be ready for you to put good seed in. He will show you what He wants you to do.
After you have sown, wait for the Lord to do the reaping. Remember that we do not sow simply for the good things that will come out of the sowing, but rather, to obey the Lord. Indeed, the reaping of what we've sown rarely happens automatically, and it may not even happen in the same place where we originally sowed the seeds. Have patience with the Lord, and trust that He sees and will honor your good works in His way and in His time.
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The greatest reaping of all is having intimacy with the Lord. When we obey Him by sowing seeds in the proper places, we'll get to know Him better. We will understand how much Jesus sowed into each of our lives, and we will love Him more because of that realization. When we sow, we shouldn't think about the people we're serving or expect anything from them in return. Rather, we should trust and believe that we are doing our work unto Him, and know that He sees us.
When we do receive blessings from our sowing, we should give praise to the Lord for them. We recognize that He is the source of every good thing in our lives, and we can rest in His faithfulness and goodness.
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