“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-12 (ESV)
The primary reason for which God blesses us is so that we may be a blessing to others. However, in tough economic times we are generally prone to hoard what we have. We get nervous and hold onto “things” because we fear they may be taken from us. We are reluctant to give and help others, because we are afraid that in doing so, we will go without. This is a serious crisis of faith. We worship that to which we hold tightest. Many of us have forgotten that it all belongs to God and we are merely managers or stewards of his blessing. Thus, we begin to worship those created things over the creator of all things. Luke 12:48 warns “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
Let’s be clear…God is not nervous about our current economic struggles. So what is it that God expects? Simply put, He promises to provide for all of our needs (Matt.6:25-34) and expects us to be a blessing to those around us. This is a constant theme throughout scripture. Jesus taught, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40). In other words, everything we know of God hinges on us loving Him with everything we are, and in turn, being an expression of His love to others.
Please do not misunderstand. This is not the prosperity gospel that instructs us to give selfishly so that we may receive more. This is God entrusting us with His blessings, because he actually trusts us to be a blessing. So often, we express our wants and desires out of selfish motive. We want more, simply because we want more. However, we would be amazed how much God would bless us if we would simply become the conduit of His blessings to those around us. The question then becomes not how much do I have, but how am I helping others. When we experience such blessing, it’s amazing how content and thankful we become with what we do have…and are even able to find contentment in times in which we are without.
It’s time for God’s people to stop freaking out over the current economic state and place their chips on the table of God’s economy. An economy in which trusting God isn’t merely printed on our currency, but tattooed in the very depths of our heart. An economy where His blessing and His provision abound.
