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.
2 Corinthians 9:8 [NKJV]
Now, normally, I would usually begin my daily devotions by using the primary passage that sparked the reflection for that day. But today’s passage is from a very similar story that we all know. The story of how Jesus Christ blessed the bread and fishes and ended up feeding 5000 men (not including their wives and children). But the part of the story that really spoke to me specifically today was the final part of the story where it said that there were leftovers after the crowd has eaten all they wanted to. If this was like a modern day buffet, I imagine they were all filled and full to the point they probably have trouble standing up. And then there is still plenty left.
That message spoke to me about God’s abundance when He decides to bless us, not only by giving us everything that we need, but also in abundance.
Thinking more about the abundance that God can provide, it also brought me to another passage in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Here’s the thing that I’ve also realized about myself, as I assume it would be the case for many Christians and believers alike. Every time we come across a verse like verse 8, we might decide to read it and totally miss out on the whole context of what it really is trying to tell us.
Yes, it is true that God can perform miracles, and bless us and provide us with an abundance of everything that we need. I have experienced that on a personal level in the past. It has happened more than once, so I know that it isn’t just some luck or fluke. But today, I am feeling reminded that there is another equally important part of this lesson that we might all missed out on.
Giving Freely and With a Cheerful Heart
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 [NKJV]
Thinking about the two verses before that also made me realize something about myself. Even though I did try to perform some acts of kindness of generosity (within my own means) in the past, I realized that I may have done it not because of the pureness of my own heart. I did it because I was hoping to feel good about myself. I did it because I thought it might make me feel good. But those were the wrong reasons when it comes to giving. When you are performing an act of giving, maybe it is to help someone out, whatever it is that you might be giving, maybe it is your time, your energy, your skills; are you doing it out of the goodness of your heart, or are you doing it because you are hoping for some kind of gratitude, or some kind of appreciation from them.
Now, let us take it a step back again. In verse 6, it teaches us that whenever we sow sparingly, we will also sow sparingly. It makes absolute sense now that I’m thinking about it. When we do something, or try to offer something to people because we are hoping for something in return, chances are that we will not continue to give in the same way when we do not get back what we were hoping for. So, as much as I have tried to give in my own ways in the past, I’ve realized that I have done it not only for the wrong reasons, but I also didn’t give much either.
I think this verse today is teaching me an incredibly important lesson. That our actions reflect on God. How we treat others (including how we give) reflect on how God will treat us. Is God a stingy giver? No, He is not. Does He expect anything from us when He gives in abundance? No, He doesn’t. So why should we when we are trying to offer help to others, right?
Today’s lesson taught me and reminded me that our intentions is really important when it comes to offering others help/assistance. We need to be careful and aware of whether our intentions are pure, or do we have some kind of personal agenda.
Personal Prayer for Today
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding me today when You decide to bless us, You don’t just give us all that we need in that very moment, but You will also bless us with a great abundance. You do it out of Your love for us as Your children. You did it without asking or expecting anything else from us.
Thank You for also revealing to me a part of me that I wasn’t aware of before. Thank You for showing me that when I decide to give of myself, or to offer help in some way, that I need to check my own intentions. I’ve realized today that when my actions were not pure, that I would not continue to give or offer help in the same way. And so, even if I thought I was being generous or helpful, I wasn’t. Not really. Like the sower, I have been sowing sparingly. And I understand the lesson now.
Even as I am now asking You for everything that I am going to need today. I am making a promise to myself that when the day comes that I am in a much better place (financially and otherwise), I would seek out opportunities to help others. Not because I could get something from it, but because I understand now that trying to help others isn’t about me, or how I might feel good from helping others.
I will dedicate the rest of my life to helping others (not necessarily in the financial way), but if there is something that I can offer, even just a listening ear, a hot meal, a coffee, whatever they might need. If I can give it, I will give it and not expect anything of it.
I vow to give You all the praise, and all the glory. In Jesus’ name I ask.
Amen.
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