This verse is used to authenticate the benefits of the congregation in giving toward their local church or preferred ministry with the lure of 'multiplied returns'. Is THAT what Christ, speaking in those verses was saying? Reading the preceding verses gives us the right picture and the intended message Jesus was trying to convey:

Luke 6:27: But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28: bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29: To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30: GIVE, to EVERYONE WHO ASKS OF YOU. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31: And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Verse 38 must then be interpreted in the light of verse 30. Jesus was expanding on the instruction to 'give to everyone who asks of you' by showing us HOW we ought to give; if WE give to our fellow man in NEED and who asks of us, if we do so liberally, we shall IN THE SAME MEASURE that we use, receive back in the same measure in OUR TIME OF NEED. As we well know, this has been distorted to mean that a Christian ought to give 'tithes and offerings' to their local church, favourite minister and that God in turn will reward us by 'multiplying the seed' and translating it to financial and material blessings or the blessing of physical healing and/or miracles. This is NOT what Christ was speaking of in His message.

Imagine twisting the words of Christ Himself in order to influence hearers into believing that this is how God intends to bless His children. Here, I would like to point out that some ministers do this in ignorance while some are wolves and manipulators, preying on the ignorant and gullible. Both, however, cause harm and lead their hearers into faulty teaching and deception. How different then is Christianity from pagan religion such as Hinduism where one attempts to bribe a deity in return for fortune, favours and material blessings?

Proverbs 19:17 tells us that giving to our poor fellow man is the equivalent of lending to the Lord Himself: He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given. Proponents of 'giving to the Lord to get from the Lord' ignore the clear promise of this giving being toward the POOR.

The greater context of the passage above (beginning at verse 27) is the believer's attitude and behaviour toward our enemies and those that have wronged us, that we liberally mete out forgiveness and love in return for their wrong treatment of us. And Christ summed up the essence of His message in this: "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

It is plain to see that these passages have nothing to do with giving financially to rich ministries, churches and ministers for personal gain.

Another Scripture abused from the pulpit to urge giving to a church organization/ministry/TV ministry is this:

2 Cor. 9:6: But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

But what was Paul talking about here? Reading from the previous chapter:

2 Cor. 8:1: Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
2: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their DEEP POVERTY abounded in the riches of their liberality.
3: For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4: imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the MINISTERING TO THE SAINTS.

The poverty stricken Macedonian church had the 'GRACE OF GIVING' bestowed upon them by God Himself. Giving, that is to SAINTS IN NEED. And Paul then went on to urge the Corintian church to follow the example of the churches in Macedonia:

2 Cor. 8:7: But as you abound in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us - SEE THAT YOU ABOUND IN THIS GRACE ALSO.

The saints in question were probably those in Judea who were in the throes of a global famine:

Acts 11: 28: Then on of them, named Agabus, stood up and sowed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29: Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30: This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Examining Paul's epistle to the Corinthian church, we see that what Paul was referring to was a financial gift by the Corinthian church that was previously promised of their own free will. Paul further writes, "concerning the ministering to the saints". Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthian church had first mentioned this collection for the saints:

2 Cor. 16:1: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
2: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

So we see that the 'sowing' that Paul spoke of was the MINISTERING TO THE SAINTS n distress or need by saints that had the means and resources and the cheerful will and disposition to do so.

David Guzik, in his commentary, points out that the Greek word 'diakonia' translated 'ministering' in the Corinthian epistles is the same word translated 'relief' in Acts 11. What would the Corinthian church REAP as a result of 'SOWING' a gift of AID to the SAINTS? Paul tells them:

2 Cor. 9:8: And God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you, that you, always having all SUFFICIENCY in all things, may have an ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
10: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and INCREASE the FRUITS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,
11: while you are ENRICHED in everything for all LIBERALITY, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12: For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13: while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14: and by their prayers for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

The believer who gives toward the needs of fellow believers, Paul assures will have SUFFICIENCY in the things pertaining to material need and a SURPLUS so that these finances can be directed to GOOD WORKS (NOT utilized for personal benefit, gain or lavish living).

This liberality of giving would show itself in/produce the FRUIT of righteousness. Those that benefit from this gift would offer thanksgiving to God. Paul calls this 'giving' itself a ministry. Again and again, Paul stresses and emphasizes LIBERALITY and exhorts that this liberality must be undergirded with and motivated by generosity and not compulsion.

Contrast this with the 'sow a 27 dollar seed' pitch based on Pslam 27 - or other bizarre persuasions (as an exampl), designed to coerce and entice the hearer with promises of reward and recompense.

To reiterate, what we REAP is the FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and the benefits of sufficiency and an abundance toward the purpose of enriching others financially and to meet their needs and provide relief, NOT 'prosperity', with regard to increase in wealth, material benefits, healings and miracles. Physical healing and supernatural deliverance and answers to prayer are free gifts from God and answers to prayer prompted by faith and according to God's will. it is preposterous to even suggest that God can be bribed into 'releasing' these blessings. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof (Pslam 24:1). Pslam 50:10: For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

In summary, 'sowing a financial seed' in order to reap material blessing from God is a rampant false concept and teaching. Some propogate this to prey on the gullible and ignorant, while some parrot what the others have done, in ignorance.

It is time to put an end to this mishandling of God's word. Paul exhorted Timothy: