We all know that our nation is going through another economic crisis. The debt rating agency Standard & Poor’s has downgraded its U.S. long-term debt assessment from AAA to AA+ with a negative outlook, the first time the U.S. has ever been downgraded from AAA status. Standard & Poor’s made this downgrade because the recent Congressional debt plan does not plan to significantly reduce our national debt over the next 10 years. The downgrade from Standard & Poor’s could cost the government and ordinary consumers billions of dollars by jacking up interest rates the U.S. must pay on its $14.4 trillion debt and a host of rates consumers pay for items such as mortgages, car loans and credit cards. In response to the debt assessment downgrade and the current economic crisis in Europe, the Dow Jones market went down 634 points on Monday. The U.S. is probably headed again for another economic downturn.

But we Christians don’t have to worry about the economy or a personal downturn if we are practicing the principle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 9 – the principle of “sowing into God’s work.” Look at Paul’s words carefully. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. . . . For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us that “WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED AND PLENTY LEFT OVER TO SHARE WITH OTHERS” if we will just practice this principle of “sowing”. Here is what the Bible teaches about “sowing” and “reaping”.

First, the Bible teaches that THE SUREST WAY TO “GET” IS TO “GIVE.” Paul wrote, “If we sow abundantly, we will reap abundantly.” This is actually a principle for all of life. The surest way to get a good agricultural crop is to sow or plant plenty of seed. That same principle works in the physical and relational worlds as well. The surest way to get strength and energy is to expend (give out) strength and energy through exercise. The surest way to get or receive love is to give love to others. And both Paul and JESUS said that when we give financially to support God’s work and to help others, the Lord will bless us with what we need for ourselves. JESUS said in Luke 6:38: “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure . . . Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you." I think that both JESUS and Paul know what they’re talking about.

I believe that many people would “get out of a hole” financially if they would just learn how to give. You see, God is primarily interested in our faith, and He knows that it takes faith to give faithfully and scripturally. And He has promised that He will reward our faith (Hebrews 11:6). So, the surest way to “get” is to “give.”

Second, the Bible teaches that OUR GIVING NEEDS TO BE PROMPTED BY GOD’S ABILITY AND RESOURCES RATHER THAN OUR ABILITY AND RESOURCES. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that when we are cheerful givers, “God will generously provide all we need so that we will always have everything we need.” The question is, “Does God have enough resources to meet our needs?” The answer is, “He certainly does.” So what prompts God to share His vast resources with us? The Bible says that God provides for our needs when we are willing to be cheerful and generous givers.

In Philippians 4, Paul was thanking the Christians in Philippi for their generous support of his ministry. He then promised then that “God would supply all their needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.” That’s an illustration to us that when we are faithful to support the work of the Lord, He will be faithful to provide for the needs in our lives.

Third, the Bible teaches that THE MORE WE GIVE, THE MORE WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE TO OTHERS. Paul wrote, “For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8). The Bible teaches that the Christian life is to be an “overflowing life” rather than a life of fear, greed or stinginess. In other words, if we become “cheerful givers” we will please the Lord, and He will make sure that we have what we need to provide for ourselves and give to others.

So, you don’t have to participate in this or any other economic recession. You can “thrive” while the rest of the world is trying to “survive” if you will just learn and practice good Biblical money management principles, and if you will be a “cheerful and generous giver” to the work of the Lord. As the famous comic strip character Hagar the Horrible said in today’s newspaper: “You’ve heard the expression ‘give till it hurts? The Viking version is ‘give if you don’t want it to hurt.’” That’s good theology, and a great practice for our lives. When we face difficult times, I’m always going to put my trust in the Lord and His Word. I think that He knows better how to take care of me and my family than all of the government and financial analysts in our world.

Hagar the Horrible was right.

I welcome your thoughts. . .