Sometimes you have to hover over a passage for an extended time to figure out why it’s there. Sometimes you really need to chew on the words, verses, and paragraphs to figure out the point. Other times? No so much.

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

(2Corinthians 9:6 ESV)

Sow bountifully! That’s the point. Talk about a gimme! The law of the harvest should govern more than our gardens, it should govern our generosity.

What’s more, in this section of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, where he’s encouraging the saints to make good on their intention to send a gift to hard-pressed believers in Jerusalem, he wants them to understand the connection between God’s grace in meeting their needs and their generosity towards helping out with the needs of others.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. . . . He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way . . .

(2Corinthians 9:8, 10-11a ESV)

Grace abounds, good works should abound. Enriched in every way, generous in every way. Affluent by God’s sovereign determination, ready to spread the wealth according to God’s providential direction. God’s graced people should be God’s generous people.

But what also grabs me is that sowing bountifully provides a double harvest.

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others . . .

(2Corinthians 9:12-13 ESV)

Not only does generosity seed a harvest of blessing for others through our good works, it also overflows as a harvest of thanksgiving from others for God’s glory. We freely give of what we’ve undeservedly been freely given, and God is rightfully given what he is rightfully owed, worship.

A double harvest. Our giving, our generosity, while a blessing to others, also produces the fruit of others blessing God.

So, sow bountifully. For others good, for God’s glory. Thanksgiving overflowing, because of grace abounding.

God’s grace. God’s glory.

That’s the point.