Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (TM)

As I look back at my life, I can count numerous times when God used others to be a blessing to me and my family. There were the people who provided funds for me to go on mission trips as a teenager and the realtor who gave me back his commission so I could afford my first house. There were the people who gave me support to spend a year in men’s ministry, and the the friend who took me to Ireland for the weekend. I have been on the receiving end of so many good and perfect gifts for which I am grateful.

And now, I find that the gifts others planted in me are bearing fruit and reproducing. I get to be a blessing to others the way others have been a blessing to me. I love to be generous. Giving is a blast. Giving lavishly is even better.

This is the way Kingdom economics works. We love, because Jesus first loved us. We give, because God (and others) have given to us. What others have planted in us is to mature, bear fruit and be scattered.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and RobW

The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (TM)

When I was in high school, my parents went through some extremely difficult times financially. I was the last of the four children still at home and my sister was in college. I will never forget the afternoon I sat at the counter drinking my after school soda as mom opened the mail. I looked up from my Coca-cola to see tears steaming down my mother’s face, her hand over her mouth.

My sister needed money for an upcoming college event and my parents didn’t have it. My folks did not have the money, nor did they have any idea how they were going to get it. They had not said a word to anyone, but chose to pray for God to provide the amount, which was in the hundreds of dollars.

In the envelope my mother had opened that day was the exact amount of cash needed for my sister’s trip and a small note that read, "In Jesus name."

To this day I don’t know who sent that pure and generous gift. I was there. I saw it for myself. That day became a life-long lesson. Not only did I learn that God can and will provide, but I also learned that I want to give that kind of blessing to others.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and slice.

Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (TM)

As I look back on the path I’ve followed thus far in life’s journey, I can see both of the examples Paul provides in response to distress. I can see times when life’s distresses drove me down a path towards God. In those cases, I depended on God to provide the patience and perseverance I needed to traverse that difficult stretch. My faith grew. When all was said and done I ended up in a better place.

Other times I can see how life’s distresses caused me to take a path away from God. Call it pride, call it anger, or call it plain foolishness. In each case, it was willful disobedience on my part. I was a petulant child refusing to heed his parent’s warning. "I don’t care what you think, Father," I said in my heart. "You may want me to take the path on the right, but I’m going to take this path on the left. Damn the consequences. It’s the path I want to take and I’m taking it!"

Do I regret my numerous willfully disobedient choices? Of course, I do. Taking many a selfish and disobedient path has yielded its share of lamentable consequences and shameful memories. Once I found my way back to the straight and narrow path, it eventually provided a host of valuable lessons. The scars I still have from taking the wrong path are a constant reminder not to do it again. As time goes on, I’d like to think I’m less likely to take the wrong path.

Life’s road will lead us down avenues of distress. It’s unavoidable. What is avoidable is the consequences of choosing to take the wrong side of the street.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and Lord Manley.

Don’t become partners with those who reject God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (TM)

When I think of the word "partnership" I think of two distinct relationships. There are marriage partnerships. There are business partnerships. I have both. I would hate to be in either with a person who did not share the same faith.

Partnerships require two people to make daily decisions that will affect each other, the two as a whole, and others who are dependent on that partnership. Even when the partners share the same vision, share the same values, share the same faith and share the same principles, there are still times when the relationship becomes strained. When the partners do not have those things in common, it becomes perilously difficult – if not impossible. When partnerships fail the acute pain is intense and the fallout is widespread.

It’s best just to avoid partnering with those who aren’t walking the same spiritual path as you.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and iirraa

Don’t become partners with those who reject God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 (TM)

When I think of the word "partnership" I think of two distinct relationships. There are marriage partnerships. There are business partnerships. I have both. I would hate to be in either with a person who did not share the same faith.

Partnerships require two people to make daily decisions that will affect each other, the two as a whole, and others who are dependent on that partnership. Even when the partners share the same vision, share the same values, share the same faith and share the same principles, there are still times when the relationship becomes strained. When the partners do not have those things in common, it becomes perilously difficult – if not impossible. When partnerships fail the acute pain is intense and the fallout is widespread.

It’s best just to avoid partnering with those who aren’t walking the same spiritual path as you.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and iirraa

That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (TM)

Much of my daily work is providing quality assessment in call centers. Have you ever heard the phrase "this call may be monitored to ensure quality service?" Monitoring calls and ensuring quality service is a large part of what my company does. It’s an interesting job.

A few years back we were providing service quality assessments for one salesman in a particular company. The salesman’s manager left and it was over five months before the manager was replaced. In the meantime, we continued to assess the salesman’s calls. The salesman, however, thought that our assessment stopped when his manager left. He believed that he was no longer going to be held accountable for the quality of service he was providing on the phone.

The chart of the salesman’s performance on the phone began to drop off the month he believed he was no longer being assessed, and it continued in a steep decline for five months. He had consistently been one of the top performers in the company. After five months believing he wasn’t being assessed, he had the lowest service performance in the company.

It’s funny how the knowledge that we will be held accountable for what we do influences our behavior. The Bible is clear that we will all stand before God and we will be held accountable. Our sins are forgiven. The price of our sin-debt was paid by the blood of Jesus. There will be no record of our sin because those records have been expunged.

But, what did we do with what was left when the sin was washed away? What did I do with this precious, gracious gift? Was I faithful with the time, energy, talents, and resources I’ve been given?