All Sufficiency in All Things

The Story

Paul was collecting an offering for the poor believers in Jerusalem, who were suffering through famine and hard times. He wrote to the church in Corinth to encourage them to give.

And he told them about the churches in Macedonia.

The Macedonian believers were very poor themselves. They were going through severe trials. But “the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” They gave far beyond what they could afford. They actually begged Paul for the privilege of helping.

Paul reminded the Corinthians of Jesus: “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Then he gave them a farmer’s principle. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” Give from the heart, “not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

And he gave them a promise. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

Reflection