EquippedMama

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[d] will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-11, The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I woke up early, the sky still dark. I knew if I could get my mind awake I could have focused time with the Lord, and then perhaps even accomplish a needed task or two before my little ones got up. I made my coffee, grabbed a cozy blanket, and settled on my favorite couch with my Bible and notebook.

Several minutes later (much earlier than I anticipated) I heard a loud yawn from my son’s bedroom.

Click.

Light flooded the hallway. I knew my reverie had a quickly impending expiration date. I spanned the distance between his room and myself and collected my smiling little man, complete with his troop of stuffed animals and blue blanket. My solitude had ended, but with this early riser God had given me the chance to begin my day with generous living.

In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul talks about the importance of being generous. The context of this dialogue was the generosity demonstrated by the early church, specifically the church of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) in participating in “the relief of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:4b). In light of this church’s good witness, Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to prepare the gift they had promised (2 Corinthians 9:5) that they might also maintain a good testimony.

Paul describes the heart of a true generous giver. He mentions that a generous giver cannot be one who gives reluctantly or under compulsion. Generosity isn’t being guilted into giving. He offers the encouragement that God loves a cheerful giver (v. 7).

In verses 6-11 Paul shifts his focus to the heart of the giver to the generosity of God to provide what we need when we give to others. God is generous to provide for the generous giver. He equates giving to planting a harvest, showing how only with a generous sowing can one expect a bountiful harvest. He assures the giver of God’s desire to see generosity lived out in the Christian’s life, and His capability to meet our need when we are giving to those in need.

We may know these things with our heads. But what does our heart do when we are asked to implement this type of sacrificial generosity?

As a mom, this might look different than it did in pre-parenting days. Perhaps generosity means welcoming a smiling face a half hour earlier than you planned. In this case, it means welcoming them with love and making them feel accepted, rather than ruing your lost personal time. It might mean giving from your priorities, sacrificing a perfectly ordered home so you can take time to train little minds and hearts. Generosity might mean giving another mama a much-needed afternoon to herself, giving of your tidy routine in exchange to be a blessing to another. Generosity might mean getting up with the screaming baby so your husband can rest before a grueling shift at work.

Generosity at this stage of life is often not a grandiose gift of money or materials, but rather a moment-by-moment decision to prioritize the needs of others and point them to Jesus through your words, attitudes and actions.

At this stage of life, being generous might not look impressive. But the same God that offers to meet our needs in acts of heroic sacrifice, offers 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” (2 Corinthians 9:8b). He does this so that you can represent Him well in your home and your community. God sees your heart, mama. He sees mine, and delights when we truly desire to live as generous people, no matter the cost.

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. 

2 Corinthians 9:8

Mother and child photo by William Fortunato on Pexels.com