Articles
God’s Provisions For Doing Good
God’s Provisions For Doing Good
The Corinthians were encouraged to not only take part in the collection for the needy saints they were encouraged to give bountifully (9:5-6), cheerfully (9:7). With such giving Paul says that God would ‘multiply your seed for sowing’ and they would be ‘enriched in everything’ (9:10-11).
'Health and wealth' preachers often use these promises (and others like them) to promise people that God will make them rich (or at least richer). There is a grain of truth here (as there often is). The problem is in ignoring the scope and purpose of God’s promise.
IF the Corinthians out of ‘proof of their love’ (8:24), give abundantly, cheerfully, and without covetousness, then God would provide that they would be able to do even greater works of liberality. Rather than being a way of gaining personal wealth to be used for personal ease, it is a promise of being equipped for greater works of giving.
The problem raises its head immediately for when a person sees this as a promise of personal gain and ease, the heart of that person is wrong. God’s gifts, including material things, are intended to be used for His glory.
God will ‘make all grace abound to you … SO THAT you may have an abundance for every good deed’ (9:8). He will ‘multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness’ (9:10). You will ‘be enriched in everything FOR all liberality’ (9:11).
The Macedonians (the area of Philippi and Thessalonica), were such people (cp. 8:1-5). They of their own accord and without prompting by the apostles, begged to be allowed to participate in the collection for the needy saints. Such was prompted not out of any promise of personal recompense but out of love for God and their brethren. They then gave out of their deep poverty and gave much more than what Paul or the others ever expected from them. They had already, though yet in deep poverty, helped Paul by sending unto his need several times (2 Cor. 11:8-9; Phil. 4:16). What little material blessings they had they freely used for good deeds. They did so liberally and cheerfully. SUCH people will be provided with the ability to do even more of such works.
Hence we would ask: What would a generous, godly, caring person want with more material gain? We really need to examine how we are doing with what we already have!
Hugh DeLong
