"Abundance Provided For Every Good Work"2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Thoughts for Today:I think it is very important to understand both what our passage says, and what it doesn't say. It doesn't say: God WILL bless us abundantly. However, it does say: God is ABLE to bless us abundantly. This is a very important distinction in our understanding of how God works. God is willing and able to supply the every need of the cheerful giver, but it doesn't happen automatically. (Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.")
There is also something else that we must pay careful attention to -- some people think God is stingy and only wants to supply our bare necessities. But that isn't the case. The word Paul uses to describe God's blessings is "abundant", which means "in great number or amount". (Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.")
One of the great purposes God has in pouring prosperity into our lives, is so we can in turn be a blessing to others. (Genesis 12:2: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.") In our passage today, Paul explains our blessing from God is so great that we can "...in all things at all times, having all that you need...abound in every good work." In other words, no good work should ever go unfunded. Why? Because God is able to provide much more than we could ever personally require. Therefore, we can certainly afford to be equally generous in meeting the needs of anyone God places in our path. The point of our passage today is -- doing good with what God has given us is the key to abundance in life -- both spiritually and financially.
Questions to Ponder:If we are not selfish with our wealth, prosperity can be a very good thing. However, it can also blind us and bind us. (Revelation 3:17: "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.") What have you done with your wealth? No matter how little we think we have, there are many other people who are less fortunate. How will you do good with the abundance God has given you?
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Thoughts for Today:I think it is very important to understand both what our passage says, and what it doesn't say. It doesn't say: God WILL bless us abundantly. However, it does say: God is ABLE to bless us abundantly. This is a very important distinction in our understanding of how God works. God is willing and able to supply the every need of the cheerful giver, but it doesn't happen automatically. (Galatians 6:9: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.")
There is also something else that we must pay careful attention to -- some people think God is stingy and only wants to supply our bare necessities. But that isn't the case. The word Paul uses to describe God's blessings is "abundant", which means "in great number or amount". (Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.")
One of the great purposes God has in pouring prosperity into our lives, is so we can in turn be a blessing to others. (Genesis 12:2: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.") In our passage today, Paul explains our blessing from God is so great that we can "...in all things at all times, having all that you need...abound in every good work." In other words, no good work should ever go unfunded. Why? Because God is able to provide much more than we could ever personally require. Therefore, we can certainly afford to be equally generous in meeting the needs of anyone God places in our path. The point of our passage today is -- doing good with what God has given us is the key to abundance in life -- both spiritually and financially.
Questions to Ponder:If we are not selfish with our wealth, prosperity can be a very good thing. However, it can also blind us and bind us. (Revelation 3:17: "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.") What have you done with your wealth? No matter how little we think we have, there are many other people who are less fortunate. How will you do good with the abundance God has given you?
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