“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.”

“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.”

September 19, 2009, 10:01 am
Filed under: K Second Letter to the Corinthians

As I have read and re-read chapters 8 and 9 in 2 Corinthians I am amazed at this statement that Paul makes: “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.” The words “all” and “every” just jump out at you! This seems to be the results of a follower of Christ who is focused on Christ.

Paul had talked to the Corinthians about how they were given “freedom” because of “the Spirit of the Lord” who has given them “life,” they were “jars of clay” meant “to show that this all-surpassing power is from God,” to “live by faith, not by sight,” “a new creation” and “the temple of the living God” and after having gone through “sorrow” they had grown in their affection for Paul and for one another. This affection for one another was now being practically shown in giving, in “rich generosity.”

A concern for the welfare of Christians in Jerusalem apparently sparked the idea in some churches in Macedonia and now Achaia is to give back to these Christians whom God used first to share the good news of Jesus Christ, whom they had benefited from. Paul’s concern though, knowing the Corinthians, was the need to encourage the Corinthians to keep their commitments they had previously made in this area. Paul mentions “the grace that God has given” and to me this speaks that while we may have concern for others, it really is a grace that Jesus gives us to meet the needs of others, when we make a choice by faith to do the right thing, it is Jesus who is moving, desiring, to express Himself through us by the Holy Spirit to give, because God loves, and His desire is to express that love through us to others. We are compelled to love because of His desire to love!

Paul mentions “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” An amazing statement! How is my sincerity when it comes to loving others? How is the church’s sincerity when it comes to loving one another? Is it because of a genuine love for others, is it a sincere love for others, or is it motivated by something else?

Paul mentions that “at the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality…” This reminds me of the very beginning of the Christian life at the birth of the church in Acts chapter 2 where it says that “all the believers were together and had everything in common…they gave to anyone as he had need” and also in chapter 5 “all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them.” Is it possible that when we practically meet the needs of our fellow believers in Christ the issue is not so much as meeting each other’s needs as it really is about growing closer together in our relationship with Jesus? As Jesus prayed “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” It is about unity in the body of Christ. It is about Jesus desire to build His body so that it can express itself through love to others and so draw others into a relationship with Himself.

So gifts that we give to others, should be of “rich generosity,” it is “the privilege of sharing,” an “act of grace,” to “excel in this grace of giving,” a “test” of “the sincerity of your love,” an “eager willingness,” a “liberal gift,” “the proof of your love,” “your eagerness to help,” “ready to give,” “the generous gift,” “he has decided in his heart to give,” “cheerful giver,” and “supplying the needs of God’s people.” The results bring “thanksgiving to God” and “overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God,” and “men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ,” “and in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”

We are being a light to the world, so that others will praise God! The results brings not just God’s grace, but “all grace abound to you.” “God is able”! “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”! Lord help me and your body to “excel in this grace of giving.”

6 Comments

6 Comments so far
Leave a comment

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI