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2008
ABOUNDING IN EVERY GOOD WORK

In 2 Corinthians 9:6 St. Paul writes: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”In many parts of our country during this month of May, gardens will begin the process of producing fruits, vegetables, and flowers. If you have ever planted seeds like beans or cucumbers, you know how true these words of St. Paul are. Plant only one or perhaps two seeds in each hill and you will not have the same results that you would have if you had planted four or more seeds in each hill. Of course, Paul was not writing about gardening but rather about a special offering to help the saints in Jerusalem and Judea who were suffering from a severe famine. Some may take this passage to mean that it is our motivation for giving. But this verse does not state the motivation for giving but simply refers to information and instruction that we know to be true from experience and observation in life.

The true motivation for Christian living is found in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “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.” God’s grace in Jesus Christ is the motivation for our Christian lives. Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves; that is, save us from sin, death and everlasting condemnation. Our spiritual needs are fully taken care of in Christ, but what about our physical needs? This passage speaks to that as well, when it indicates that God also takes care of our physical needs so that in all things at all times, we will have all that we need so that we can abound in every good work.

Paul states this so eloquently in Romans 8:32: “He (God) who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” This question begs for the answer “yes.” God does provide all that we need for our spiritual and physical welfare and he does it lavishly so that we can abound in every good work.

Finally, the apostle Paul brought the truth of Christian living home when he writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each person should give what he has decided in his own heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver.” Christian giving is primarily a spiritual issue, not a financial one. When we children of God answer the question of “what do I believe God is calling me to give” then we respond freely and generously, not because the church or any other cause needs our resources, but because we believe in our hearts that our giving is a consecrated response. The joy that we reap from such free and generous living is something that brings a special blessing to our lives that no one can ever take away from us.