2 Corinthians 9:8 is a fine verse to take out of context to claim as one saying that God is going to pour out abundant money and good will on us.
Except … when we read the chapter, we realize Paul was talking about donations from the believers in Corinth to the believers in Jerusalem.
Paul wrote this part of the letter to give the Church a heads-up that he was coming through, and bringing believers from other areas with him. He was on a fundraising junket to help the believers in Jerusalem who were suffering mightily.
(Paul didn’t want the Corinthians to forget to gather up their donations and be embarrassed in front of the others.)
Paul used the example of farmers who plant small reap small and those who plant generously reap generously to remind the believers to think in terms of generosity. The words in what we know as verse 8 remind the believers that even if they give beyond what they think they can afford, God will provide for them.
You know the phrase, “you can’t outgive God”? Yeah, Paul was saying that you can’t outgive God’s provision.
God gives us resources, time, money, and tangible things, in order to serve others. Sadly, too often we hoard those and only serve ourselves. When we do that, our supply line seems to dry up.
Does God stop providing for us? No. Not at all. But the god of self is an insatiable god, requiring more and more until we are giving everything we have to that god who can’t even get us out of sticky situations, much less provide all our needs.
Luke recorded when Jesus spoke of this concept in his gospel, chapter 6, verse 38. Our generosity to other believers is met by God’s overwhelming generosity to us.
So, see? This verse is really all about us blessing others and God refilling our store of resources to give from. If we keep giving, He keeps refilling. It’s an amazing thing.
Maybe we can give that a try today. When you hear of other believers suffering, open your heart and resources to them to be God’s provision for them and see how He refills you and your resources.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
