(Part 3/3 – A summary of the Sunday morning teaching on 26-Apr-15, in AFT Church, English service. From the series The Law of Faith)
Here is another benediction related to giving. The benediction is in verse 8 and 10, but let’s look at the context.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes 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 abundance for every good work. The Cheerful Giver
But this I say:He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes 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 abundance for every good work. As it is written:
“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.
– II Corinthians 9:6,7,8,9,10
He says not to give reluctantly or under compulsion. When Christians don’t understand giving, they will give grudgingly and sadly. People should not be coerced into giving either.
God will make grace abound towards you – this means that God’s ability, strength and power will be given to you in multiplied measure for every need. Grace can be understood as ‘power, strength and ability’. God is essentially saying that may you have strength, power and ability to handle every thing. When God gives you ALL grace, you will have ALL sufficiency in ALL things ALWAYS. When this happens, you won’t have to look at the price column in the menu when you go to a restaurant, you won’t be worried about paying rent or school fees, you won’t feel sad that you don’t have enough money to give for ministry or for a good cause. But some people like to be in want and lack. They feel that it is a sign of holiness. They refuse to accept this benediction of God.
The seed in verse 10 refers to giving and money. It says that God will do two things – He will 1) supply and 2) multiply. The seed multiplies when it is sown. That is why the Bible says God gives seed to the sower. When God gives you money, there is money to be used as seed and money to be used as food. Some people don’t have a heart to give; they eat everything. God can multiply only when you sow, when you give. We must believe that God is able to both supply and multiply.
In verse 8 says – ‘that you may have a abundance for good work’. ‘Good work’ is what God leads you to do. God has called you to do a good work that may be different from the good work that He has called another person to do. God will give you the ‘desire’ to do that good work and he will supply you with the resources to do that good work. I have seen that there is always abundance for good work.
Speak this as a benediction into your own life. It will happen when you believe in it and speak it. Call it forth. What you speak is important. That is how faith works.
