Today's PAYG, for the feast of St Lawrence the Deacon, centred on 2 Corinthians 9:6 - 15 in the rather pithy ESV:
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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. As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
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.You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, theywill glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The point is this... no room for arguing then! You only get out what you put in. Not exactly rocket science but a useful reminder. Listeners were invited to consider those areas of their lives in which they sow sparingly - give little time or little effort - and those in which they invest heavily. This is more than a prompt to increase financial giving, more than an appeal for funds, it is a challenge to look inward and be honest about our priorities and our commitment. It's not unlike the Galatians epithet 'as you sow, so shall you reap' except that where we are not thinking righteousness vs sin, but instead the 'how much' and 'how sincere' is our generosity, which ought to arise from the immeasurable generosity of God.
It made me think - to be honest about the things to which I pay lip-service, and those to which I am whole-heartedly committed - whether that be things overtly spiritual, relationships, activities, causes and so on.
The point is this... how much, how often, how good... and why? Hmmm.