These verses, although included in a passage about giving, are not so much about human giving as about the character and activity of God. We have nothing except what God provides. Our bread may come from harvested grain, but the germ of life came from God's phenomenal creative actions. It is God who gives seed to sow, so that bakers can make bread from the harvest. He does this because we are totally dependent on Him for our life, our food, our desire for Him and our ability to serve Him (Acts 17:28).

Applying the analogy of seed to money is helpful. All our possessions and financial resources are a gift from God (1 Chronicles 29:14). They help to provide for our needs but we are really trustees, holding resources on behalf of the Lord so that we can use them in His Name (Matthew 25:14-30). Serving Him gladly, with what He provides, is the essence of love in which we express His righteousness (John 14:15). Not that we become righteous by doing good, but when our hearts are tuned to His, our investment of obedience will produce a harvest.

God entrusts us with money to invest in His kingdom: as we do, He enriches us. Most importantly the enrichment is applied to our character as we see His scale of values outweighing ours. As His trust is rewarded, He provides us with more resources of many kinds, time, strength, relationship, spiritual gifts, energy and determination – in addition to money and possessions. He intends all of these to be used in His service.

Generous giving properly reflects the character and activity of God (Romans 8:32). That is why the mean believer will hold back the cause of the gospel, and the believer who gives liberally will advertise the gospel. The principal quality for a church leader is hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2) which reflects this divine trait. So leaders need to be known more as givers than receivers and encourage the churches to follow their example (Acts 20:35). Our giving will bring glory to God as does every act of obedient worship, and many will praise Him for our joyful generosity. Our motive should not simply be the relief of another's need but to bring glory to our great Creator and Redeemer.