2 Corinthians 9:6
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.
Sparingly: stingily
From the Greek word 'pheidomenós' (pronounced fi-dom-en'-oce).
Proverbs 11:25
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
To sow sparingly into the kingdom of God is to be stingy with the finances God has given us. Not only are we commanded to bring a tithe into the house of God, but offerings above said tithe are commended and rewarded. As long as the offering is coming from a giving heart and not a begrudging greedy heart.
The 'anything goes' church attendees are besmirching and killing the church. Believers support it because they recognize that they are the church. The self-righteous church sees no need to support missionaries. Believers want to support their missionaries, recognizing the strength of their financial support is multiplied when given over to God: for He causes the increase and makes their little cover many needs.
Whether we are giving into our church's missionary support system or to other mission-minded groups. For instance, VOM encourages us to provide Bibles to nations where the Bible is prohibited. Gideons Int'l supplies Bibles wherever they are needed. That's missionary support, too.
Operation Outpour is building an orphanage and a school, a garden to grow their own fruits and veggies, and helping by its efforts to support the little town in which the orphanage is. They even have a fair trade boutique where you can pick up nifty items for home and garden.
Maranatha CR is reaching the unreached in Costa Rica. Both JMM and Samaritan's Purse are international aid relief ministries.
These are just a few of the many, but I used them here because they have remained faithful throughout the years to the cause of Christ: to spread the gospel by sowing seeds into the nations/cultures to which they have been sent.
When we listen to the Spirit of God, He directs where our missionary support goes. They covet our prayers, as well. We need to remain faithful in our prayers for them and it helps to know how many of these missionaries want to be prayed for.
This book changed the way I pray for missionaries and the persecuted church. For me, it was life-changing, because I can see the effect my prayers for someone else are having on me.
Don't let the devil make you feel bad if your wallet/pocketbook is full of cobwebs and dust. When I had nothing financially to give, I asked God to make me a blessing. He's still doing that.
We are merely commanded to "Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33) and everything we need will be 'added to us'. Worry does not move the heart of God: faith does.
Galatians 5:22,23 tells us about the fruit of the Spirit, indicating that it is one fruit with many segments. Should one segment be missing the fruit is incomplete and will not accomplish its purpose. The fruit will rot on the vine and need to be removed.
Let us not be rotten fruit on the vine, but Spirit aligned. It is not too late to sow into God's kingdom. Christ has not yet been sent by the Father to bring His people home. There's still time to reach one more person, one more soul.
Seek First - Jason upton
Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath
Give Us Clean Hands - Chris Tomlin
Sow In Tears - Danny Daniels
To Live Is Christ - Sidewalk Prophets
The Proof of Your Love - for KING & COUNTRY
Happy Day - Jesus Culture
Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective
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