Today I came across a note from a pastor friend of mine – although I received it several years back, it was a great and timely reminder of what a true love offering really is. This friend always gives me great insight, even in a simple note. Here is a portion of his note…
First – Kim, we do not sow into you and your ministry!
Of course, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with sowing into Kim Potter and/or her ministry, as a matter of fact. I believe TREMENDOUS BLESSINGS result from those who sow into you and your ministry! That just is not what we choose to do. First Kim, when we give to you it is a TRUE LOVE OFFERING! What do I mean by that? It can’t be written off. We can’t get any earthly credit for it. If we sent it to the ministry, we could write it off.
It is a true Old Testament offering/sacrifice. It is CONSUMED upon the altar, and it cannot come back to give us any earthly benefit later on. (I do not see anything AT ALL wrong with claiming charitable donations on your tax returns from tithes and offerings.)
In addition, Kim, the word SOWING denotes the expectation of a return. Understand this Kim, we don’t GIVE to you to GET, we GIVE to you because we have GOTTEN! Our gifts to you are IN APPRECIATION for your faithful ministry.
Our return is the JOY we already have from knowing we can be a small blessing to YOU! If God chooses to bless us for blessing you – that is entirely up to Him. We are YOUR RETURN! Our gifts, though small, are YOUR HARVEST! I pray that your harvest will increase a thousand-fold because of your faithfulness.
Galatians 6:7-9 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Genesis 8:22 says, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
There is indeed a biblical foundation for believing in the law of sowing and reaping. That being said, it took the words of my friend to show me what a true love offering looks like.
I have read his email numerous times in the last few hours. It blesses me tremendously. They gave because the received something from me. That blesses me. It also convicts me in some areas.
Do I send true love offerings?
Do I give consistently, because I have received?
The Bible says there is a time for everything – a season for all things. There is a time to sow, a time to reap and perhaps, a time for love offerings. True love offerings. To those of you who daily give out, I believe it is time for your harvest. I believe it is coming to you now, even as you read this. The Bible is clear, we give, and it is given back to us. May the giving back overtake you even this week. May exponential love offerings be poured out on you this month greater than anything you ever imagined. And we will be sure to give God all the glory.
