“Let your life be a stepping stone to Christ and not a stumbling block.” 1 Cor. 8:13 & 10:31

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven." Matt. 5:16

The Harvest Principle – Give Generously

By Rick Warren

"Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 'There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?'" (John 6:8-9 NLT).

Whenever you have a need, acknowledge your faith by planting a seed. In other words, take your focus off your need and look at ways you can provide for the needs of others, planting a seed in their lives.

This isn't easy. It goes against our nature; it's totally illogical. If I'm out of money, I'm probably going to think, "I can't give away any money." Or if I'm out of time, I'm probably going to think, "Why should I spend more time on something else?" Or if I don't have any energy in a relationship, I'm probably going to think, "How can I give more energy away?"

Yet, God says this is exactly what demonstrates faith: when you have a need, you plant a seed.

You can see this principle imbedded in our blood. When you give away blood, you get more blood. You don't end up with less blood; you end up with as much blood or more than you had before.

God often works through this harvest principle: when you have a need, you give; and what you give away, God replenishes. Faith is like a seed, so it has to be planted, or deposited.

Remember the story of the little boy who had five loaves and two fish? He gives them away, and God uses them to feed 5,000 people. Jesus takes what the boy gives; He breaks it, He blesses it, and He uses it.

That's what God does in our lives. He takes us, He breaks us, He blesses us, and He uses us. He multiplied a little into a lot because it was planted as a seed.

Rick Warren is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, which was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th Century.