Abounding in every good work

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. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

One of the alarming teaching that goes around Christendom today is “you name it and claim it” theology. What this theology teaches is that God wants every believer to be naturally wealthy. You can pray to God and demand anything you want and God will respond by providing what you asked. But the Bible does not teach about this kind of theology. This teaching presumes that when a person invests a certain amount of money in a religious activity, God will return the amount spent tenfold. There is also an assumption in this teaching that God does not want His children to be poor. From the text, the apostle Paul used the analogy of a farmer working in the field. He used the terms from previous passage (in v. 6) “sowing and reaping.” Just like a farmer, as he is sowing seeds he goes out and the motion appears to be scattering it away with no guarantee to retrieve them back again. It seemed that they were a lost to him but in the truth is that he is giving up the control of what were scattered. The truth is, just like what Paul was conveying is that once God takes hold of what was trusted to Him, He fulfills its appointed purpose. The more you get into this habit, the more God blesses you so you could “abound in every good work” (v. 8). The more you become generous, this will “result in thanksgiving to God” (v. 11). God called you to serve Him and not the material things of this world for you cannot serve both. As Jesus told His disciples, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Faith in God is placing your trust in Him alone. Whether He blesses you or not when you act in faith in doing what He called you to do, you will trust Him to supply your need. When you do an act of service because of your gratitude to God’s grace given to you through His death on the cross, you will not expect anything in return. This kind of service was demonstrated in the Parable of the Good Samaritan where the Samaritan was commended because he served the one who was robbed and left for dead without expecting anything in return. “The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have’” (Luke 10:35).

Blessings.