2 Corinthians 9:8
“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.”

One of the struggles of my heart is the constant feeling of insufficiency. On the one hand, this is exactly correct: I am not sufficient for the challenges of this life and neither are you. As Christian we must guard against any feeling that ‘we got this’ when it is so clear that we do not! On the other hand: we must also guard against a fear of stepping into the fray around us and be willing to risk whatever it is we fear to lose in order to win souls and make disciple making disciples!

So let’s break down this passage so that we can see Paul’s logic and how we must think about our work in this world:

“And God…”
First and foremost: God is the subject of this sentence. He is the Actor. He is in charge: so let him be. As you do anything and everything, keep your eye on Jesus. Psalm 123:2 calls us to pay attention to what God is doing in your life and the lives of your near ones. This isn’t some mystical mumbo jumbo: it means you are staying close to God in his Word and prayer and doing the next right thing. And it means you are moving in what you know of his revealed will.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you”
It is crucial that we know that grace is Gods undeserved power to accomplish his purposes in/through/for us and our near ones. When we do we will recognize that whatever it is that God calls us to (three months of unemployment for example; a body that isn’t working right for example) he will empower us to glorify him. We don’t need to be afraid of insufficiency: he will grace us with the power we need to glorify him! That is all he has promised to do.

“so that having all sufficiency”
Whose sufficiency? His. Amen.

“in all things”
All things. Yes. Keep reading, Paul qualifies appropriately.

“at all times”
All times. Yes. See immediately above (then below!).

“you may abound”
Not just some of the time; he wants you to make it noticeable to all near you that you belong to him!

“in every good work.”
Every good work means the work you do (by his grace! See above)! Every good work means what you accomplish for his kingdom, not your own!

And, it is helpful to get the context of the verse or we can make it say whatever we want it to say:

The Context:
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] 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. [9] As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Sowing in this case relates to monies the Corinthians said they would give to the poor Christians in Israel. You can be sure that whatever you sow: time, talent, treasure you will reap.

So do not fear. You may not have extra cash. Don’t fret, God knows and he expects you to give according to your ability (2 Cor 8:11-12) not what you don’t have! So, give encouragement to the discouraged. Give prayers for those suffering. Give time to those who are short on it. You are sufficient to do this because God made you sufficient by his grace for his work.

This is how you will…

Praise Jesus!!!