St Paul said, “He who sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2
Corinthians 9.6) And here is what I would ADD to St Paul’s advice. He who doesn’t
sow anything will reap NOTHING. If we don’t at least place the seed in the
ground, nothing will ever grow. St Paul was attempting us to utilize the great
gifts God has given to us when he also said, “Now, may He who supplies seed to
the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown in
increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9.10)
There is another story using the gifts God has given, in
this case the gift of faith. In the Gospel of Luke we read of the healing of
the woman with the flow of blood. (Luke 9.43-48) She believed, as she had been taught,
that if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garments, she would be healed. Jesus
eventually said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.”
(Luke 9.48) If she had not used her faith, she would never have been healed by
God.
In both St Paul’s advice and the healing story from the Gospel,
we witness God power. This is only possible when the gift of God, either the
seed of the woman’s faith, is first put to its proper use. God gives each of us
gifts to be used for righteousness, but He doesn’t force us to put them to use.
Just as no seed grows fruit sitting on a shelf, faith not put into action doesn’t
bring righteousness. Something to think about.
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