There is a principle in scripture of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving. That principle is not just a financial one, but it also needs to apply to every aspect of our lives. That’s what Jesus taught His disciples. You might want to ask yourself when you come to worship the Lord and study His word with the church family, do you come to give as well as receive? Jesus said: ‘Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your lap. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.’

Many times we miss out on some of God’s richest blessings because our motivation for coming to church is only measured by what I get, not what I give away. You may leave a service feeling ‘down’ because nobody ministered to you. Ask yourself, who did you minister to? You may say that you didn’t get blessed by the worship because they didn’t play the songs that fit your mood. But did you come to worship Jesus or your mood? Oftentimes our blessing comes in being used by the Lord through being a giver, not merely a receiver.

When we gather together, we need to first of all minister to the Lord so that we may be led by His Spirit in ministering to others. Jesus may want you to be an answer to someone else’s prayer of need today. He may jar you out of your discouragement by using you to encourage someone else. This is because God’s ‘agape’ love is Christ-centered and others-minded. If I make my needs, my feelings, etc., the focus then I will miss being a blessing to others, unlike Paul whose thorn only amplified his message of grace. How we need to really listen to others when they are pouring out their hearts! We need the mind of Jesus towards each other.

Sow love. Sow compassion. Sow understanding. Sow kindness. Sow mercy. Sow forgiveness. Bathe each day in prayer and let Jesus use your life as a conduit to bless others. If you sow iniquity you’ll reap sorrow, but if you sow righteousness you’ll have a sure reward. The seeds you sow today is the crop you will harvest tomorrow. Therefore, sow bountifully, and God, you, and others will be blessed.