January 29, 2016
II Corinthians 9:6-8, 11
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
For the fourth installment on Reaping Bountifully, we will continue looking at II Corinthians 9:6 through 8 and 11:
…He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he pur-
poses in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abun-
dance for every good work…while you are enriched in everything for
all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
We are on the second half of verse 8, the first half emphasizing God’s grace – His undeserved favor toward us. But to get the context, I’ll reproduce the whole verse.
• II Corinthians 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.”
We learned from verses 6 and 7 that material blessings flowing out of God’s unmerited favor is in part dependent upon our faithfulness in giving back abundantly to Him out of grateful hearts for what He has done for us. He gave us eternal and abundant life through Jesus Christ (see John 10:10). Why does the Lord want to bless us by His grace? Two reasons, according to verse 8:
* …that we might “…have…all sufficiency in all things….” One of His precious promises in found in Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” He is interested in our physical and material needs! (See Psalm 23:1, 2; Matthew 6:25-34). He does not promise to supply our wants! But He does promise to supply what we need!
Often, though, God delights in giving us our wants also (see Psalm 37:4). In comparing the two passages just mentioned – II Corinthians 9:8 and Philippians 4:19 – both emphasize the word all ! He gives all sufficiency to supply all your need! What a wonderful God we have! No wonder Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31-33:
Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall
we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the
Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you
need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His right-
eousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
* …that we “…may have an abundance for every good work….” This is why God blesses us materially – so that we may have an abundance for every good work! This leads to two more questions:
➔ What constitutes a good work in God’s mind? I think Jesus helps answer that question in Matthew 19:17. The rich young ruler came to Jesus addressing Him as “Good Master…” (Matthew 19:16). The Lord challenged him: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Jesus was saying to him, “If you are going to call Me good, then call Me God!” Since only God is good, a good work has to be that which is according to His will! Search the Scriptures to find out the mind and will of God, and to discern what is truly a good work!
➔ The abundance of material wealth with which God entrusts us is so that we can engage in every good work He would have us to do!
So thank God for His blessings of abundance in your life, and use that material abundance which He puts in your care to accomplish good works for His glory!