Grace for Every Good Work

Do you ever feel you do not have enough? Paul writes to the Corinthian believers about a collection for the suffering church in Jerusalem. He is not twisting their arm. He is lifting their eyes. His entire argument for their generosity rests on the character and ability of God. Notice the magnificent chain of events in this single verse. It begins with God's power. It flows into God's grace. This grace is not a small portion but an abounding, overflowing amount. The result of this abounding grace is your sufficiency. Paul is absolute about this. You will have all sufficiency, in everything, always. This is a staggering promise. But the purpose is not what we might expect. God does not make us sufficient so that we can build bigger barns for ourselves (Luke 12:18). He provides for us so that we can become providers. The final link in the chain is our action: to abound in every good work. God's unending supply is meant to create an unending outflow of generosity from His people.

Friend, this verse begins right where our confidence should always begin: 'And God is able'. So often, we look at our own resources, our own energy, our own time, and we feel a deep sense of lack. We hold on tightly to what we have because we fear we will not have enough for tomorrow. But God makes you a promise here. He is not just able, but He is actively making all grace abound toward you. His grace is not a small trickle. It is an overflowing supply, and it is meant for you. But this divine provision is not designed to end with you. It is meant to flow through you. God makes you sufficient not so you can feel secure in yourself, but so you can become a conduit of His generosity to others. He fills your hands so you can open them. Your security is not in what you possess. Your security is in the God who is able to make all grace abound. Today, you will have opportunities to be generous. It might be with your money, your time, or a word of kindness. Fear will tell you to hold back, to protect what is yours. But God's promise is that His grace is enough. It is enough for you, and it is enough for you to do the good work He has placed before you. What one good work is He calling you to abound in today?

Where is God inviting you to trust His sufficiency over your own sense of scarcity today?

Father, I confess my fear of not having enough. Help me trust that Your grace provides a true sufficiency in all things. May my life overflow with the good works You have prepared. Amen.

The collection for the Jerusalem church was a major project for Paul, uniting believers from different cultures and demonstrating the practical love that bound the early Christian community together.