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2 Corinthians 9:6-8
April 17, 2026 by Rebecca Littlejohn
DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. (NRSV)
Our stewardship campaign for the 2026-2027 ministry year kicks off in worship this Sunday. I am so pleased to launch “How Does God’s Garden Grow?” the same weekend we are celebrating the new pollinator garden across the street. The way this garden came together is a beautiful example of what can happen when “cheerful givers” team up to do something amazing. That is always how I hope we can think about our annual stewardship campaigns.
When we are asked to consider our support for our congregation, it’s always about more than money. The Intentions Offering we’re using this year invites us to contemplate how we plant the seeds of service, water the ground with worship, and weed the garden with study. Our financial commitment is how we feed the soil. All of these spiritual disciplines together make up a life of faithfulness, and that looks different for each one of us.
Most of you know I am not a talented gardener. But I can learn how to turn the sprinklers on and I’ve definitely been honing my party-planning skills this month! Each of us has something to offer to help God’s garden grow in Vista La Mesa (the church and the neighborhood). When the thing we’re asked to contribute is the thing it brings us joy to offer, that’s when the Holy Spirit is really cooking, to completely mix up our metaphors!
So I hope as we approach this campaign, it will feel like an opportunity to celebrate your faith, rather than a stressful ordeal. When we read that “God loves a cheerful giver,” we need to understand that’s not telling us to force ourselves to be cheerful, but rather to find the way of giving that brings us joy, and then share it!