TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROVISION
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)
Paul wrote this verse in the context of the collection he was organising for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem had fallen on hard times because of a famine in Judea. Paul believed this gift would be a blessing and an expression of goodwill from the Gentile churches in Greece and Asia Minor to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.
About a year earlier, the church in Corinth had been eager to support this initiative. However, conflicts and misunderstandings arose between the Corinthians and Paul, and the collection was not followed through. Now that reconciliation had taken place, Paul reminded them to fulfil the commitment they had made to bless the poor in Jerusalem.
As he encouraged them to give generously and cheerfully, Paul also reminded them that God is our Provider.
GOD IS OUR PROVIDER
Christians who imagine that God can only work with what is already available often adopt a scarcity mindset. There is never enough to go around, so we feel compelled to conserve, save, hoard or play safe. With this mindset, giving is always viewed as losing.
This is not the way Paul wants Christians to think. God is almighty. He is the God of the impossible. His resources are unlimited.
Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians, and us, that our ability to give does not depend on our limited resources, abilities or strength, but on Almighty God. God is indeed able to make all grace abound to us because He is the God of the impossible.
Paul also reminds believers that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20) and that He “will meet all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
In giving, and in pledging, we first look to Almighty God, our ultimate source and provider. He is able to provide enough.
Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians, and us, that our ability to give does not depend on our limited resources, abilities or strength, but on Almighty God.
ENOUGH FOR EACH NEED
Paul assures the Corinthian Christians, and us, that God’s grace embraces every situation and condition we may fear: lack, illness, war, crisis, enemies, famine, loss or even death. In all things and at all times, God is able to meet our every need.
In this same letter, Paul shared one of the greatest challenges of his life. He was tormented by a ‘thorn in the flesh’, which he described as a messenger of Satan (2 Cor. 12:7–9). Despite his fervent prayers for deliverance, the suffering remained. Yet through these trials Paul experienced the grace of God that was sufficient for him. God did not remove the suffering, but He provided grace enough for his need.
In urging the Corinthians towards generous giving, Paul assured them that God would provide enough and that they were merely channels through which God could bless the poor in Jerusalem.
We too must trust God in giving and pledging. We trust the all-sufficient God, whose ‘cup overflows’ (Ps. 23:5), so that we may faithfully and generously become channels of His grace to others.
We will not lack but will have enough for generous giving.
In urging the Corinthians towards generous giving, Paul assured them that God would provide enough and that they were merely channels through which God could bless the poor in Jerusalem.
THE GOAL OF PROVIDING ENOUGH
Our sufficiency in God is not an end in itself. We must not think that God calls and blesses us simply so that we can live happy and secure lives. He has called and blessed us for His purpose.
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)
We are chosen and blessed for God’s purpose: to abound in every good work. We are stewards of God’s abundant resources, called to glorify His name, love our neighbour and reach the last, the least and the lost. If we miss this goal, we are merely living self-centred lives.
We are to invest our blessings of time, talent and treasure in the Lord’s work and purpose. The gifts and pledges we offer are our partnership in the gospel with the church to fulfil God’s work and mission in the world, to the praise of His glory.
We are chosen and blessed for God’s purpose: to abound in every good work. We are stewards of God’s abundant resources, called to glorify His name, love our neighbour and reach the last, the least and the lost.
(Images courtesy of Magnific.com)
Read also: Because You Give, We Are Able To Welcome – And Many Encounter God Here!
