The Secret to a Rich Marriage: Be a Cheerful Giver in the Home

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

When we read this verse in 2 Corinthians, it is typically thought about in  terms of money, finances, giving to others in need.  And this is accurate!  God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others.  But I want to change the way we view this verse.  Let’s take off the lens of money and put on the lens of marriage and see what this verse says in a new way. We will dive into it phrase by phrase and see how this can relate to the marriage you have and perhaps the marriage you want to have.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly

Sowing refers to planting seeds. If you plant a lot, you get a lot and if you plant a little, you get a little.  This is true for grains, vegetables, and fruits.  But this begs the question, what can you sow into your marriage? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  If all of this is “the fruit,” then we can sow these as seeds into our spouse, our marriage.  The hard part comes from withholding these seeds from your marriage, likely from a deeper root issue and past hurts.  If you do not show love to your spouse, you will likely not feel love from your spouse in return.

Whoever sows generously will also reap generously

But the good news is that if you pour out the love on your spouse,  you will likely get that love in return. Have the mindset that you will be intentional in sowing goodness and love regardless of what you see.  See if it makes a difference in the livelihood of your relationship.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,  not reluctantly or under compulsion

We are born with a human sin nature and living a life filled with problems.  The selfishness and problems of our past can pour out and overflow into the love we have or once had for each other. This verse shows WE decide what, when, and how to love our spouse.  That is heavy, especially for the spouse who pours out but doesn't get it back in return. Your hard task is to keep doing it and trusting in God, holding fast to Him, having faith that He will carry you through.  I encourage you to be the one, to decide as you read this blog, to sow seeds of love for your spouse.

For God loves a cheerful giver

God loves us.  He loves when we do things with a cheerful heart and positive attitude.  God desires us to give the fruit of the spirit to our spouse, children, parents, and friends.  He calls us to be generous with these seeds. 

I challenge you to look at your spouse through Jesus’ eyes.  Love like He loves and generously love your spouse through your words, deeds, and time. Be a cheerful giver in your home and in your marriage.