Sowing and Reaping in Relation to Money

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

From the outset this extract from the Bible seems to point us towards principles and formulas: the more you give, the more you get. But as some of us know from our experiences with Word of Faith and the prosperity message, in fact, works-based Christianity in general - principles and formulas don't work.

With works-based Christianity what we get is a bunch of neurotics or self-justified people trying to prove their spiritual status according to what they achieve. But we all know that does not prove a thing: just because someone spends time on a Sunday working for the Sunday School at church - it does not mean that they are a kind, generous person.

So, it is for these reasons that I have switched focus from works to disposition, or you could say nature, personality, etc. When we change the lens from works to grace, when we read the Bible, everything changes: those demands for performance are seen for what they really are.

I believe it is the same situation with 2 Corinthians 9 - this is not pointing towards works with a view to encouraging people to works - I believe that must be referring to a person's state of being, their disposition. As always, writers of the Bible often attempt to get a handle on unseen, spiritual concepts, which is what Paul is doing here - we see this in the parables of Jesus.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul attempts to get a handle on the difference between a good and bad disposition. Here, Paul is contrasting the difference between a generous and a miserly spirit. If we think outside of the Bible-box a moment, simple logic tells us that this is a difference between a secure disposition and an insecure disposition: if I have a sense of security, I'll be more generous with my money and vice-versa.

This contrast of security versus insecurity was something that Jesus related in the Parable of the Talents. Again, the Parable of the Talents can be seen as a call to works - he who gives the most finds favour with the Master, whilst he who does not, earns His contempt. But in actual fact the Parable of the Talents is a contrast of dispositions: the insecure person feels the need to preserve what he has for fear of losing it; whilst the secure-minded person is confident, willing to take risks and is more likely to part with his money. An insecure person will always struggle financially because of the unwillingness to take risks which his fear brings and a sense of apathy. I also believe that there is probably some kind of spiritual aspect to that as well - something to do with trusting in God for provision. Faith is, after all, trust in God.

I believe we also see a clue in verse 7, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion." It could never be about works because that involves a sense of coercion. If a person gives generously out of a genuine heart of kindness - the is no compulsion there - he is a "cheerful giver".

In conclusion, we either see 2 Cor. 9 in relation to works or disposition - if we see it in reference to works, the result is an endless striving, guilt and an inevitable sense of hopelessness; but if we see it in the light of disposition, the perspective changes to who we are in Christ and the new nature.