God Is Able To Take Care Of Every Need...And More

2 Corinthians 9:6-8  -   But remember this—if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much. Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.

Paul needed two chapters to finish everything he felt led to say about giving. He was proud of them for the idea of helping others…but wanted them to understand that a true gift came from a heart that did not look to receive anything back. He wanted them to know that once they stopped thinking about what was too much…and started thinking about what was too little…they would see that God was already providing everything they needed and more.

I am reminded of the basic economics lessons I had in high school and college. There is a difference in needs and wants. We only need 3 basic things…food…shelter….and belonging. The rest of what we think we need fits into the wants category….and many of the things we think we need are drive by the standards that the world sets for us. God has fought our need to switch out the needs and wants columns since the first of time.  Adam and Eve had all three needs…but ventured into the wants column and let sin enter the picture.  The Israelites had all three…not just the way they wanted…even after God delivered them they created idols to worship cause God didn’t send Moses back down the mountain quick enough for their taste. They complained about the manna he sent daily…and well on and on the story goes.

The key words of the problem that Paul was trying to speak to are…’not the way we want.’ Our idea of how God should care for us is hardly ever the way God sees it best. Just like Adam and Eve…we let the world in the shape of the serpent that we love best…guide our hearts and sway us to think that we deserve more than he has given. Perhaps that is why Jesus said in Matthew 19:24….”  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a man with riches to enter the kingdom of heaven.”  And let’s not forget the story of the talents Jesus told in Matthew 25:14. We let what we want…trick us into mistrusting what God wants to give. Once we trust what God has given…use it to its fullest….then He will give us in abundance…knowing that we will use it to help others.

Father…thank you for the reminder that you will provide all that I need…and expect me to use the abundance of your provisions to help others.  Forgive me for the times that I have let my wants make decisions about my life and giving to others.  Help me to refocus my heart on the basic needs that will sustain me in all things…so that I may begin to see how you want me to use what you have given to help others. Amen.