No more needs

So two weeks ago we looked at some verses that all of us are familiar with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and we talked about how those verses mean something different than just excelling at a sport, or having a bunch of money, or being a celebrity. But what Paul is telling them is that in difficult circumstances and in times of blessing He knows that Christ has taught him how to be content. But today we are going to talk about now just how in Christ we can learn to be content, but how we can learn to have faith God will provide for our needs.

So what is the different? Well, to be content is to see everything that is before you and find joy and peace. That you can say “I can find joy in what I have and not have to seek joy in what someone else has”. We become discontent when we see our friend who has something that we want, or when we want something nicer than what we have even though what we have works fine.

But to have faith that God provides means that when you need something to sustain you, when there is something you are lacking that you need, that you trust that God will give you it. To be content is “I have food to eat but not the food I want, I will eat it anyways because I can still enjoy it.” To trust that God provides is to say “I don’t have food and I need food, but I know that God will give me what I need to provide for my needs.”

Knowing God’s Supplies your needs gives you the freedom to be generous

In v. 17 Paul says that their giving to him increased the profit in their accounts. That is, they were storing up for themselves treasures in heaving. Whenever you get older you will most likely set up a retirement account, this is money that you don’t spend but that you save over the course of your lifetime so that you can enjoy your retirement. In fact, the more money you put in, the quicker that it multiplies on itself and accrues. See Paul is telling them that they are accruing in their heavenly account larger rewards.

Knowing God’s promises allows you to bless others

How many of you have a job? I remember my first job, I worked at a grocery store. And I remember when I got my paychecks I would think about how I would spend all of my money that I got. How much I would need for gas, how much I would spend on food, and then I would save some for me to buy an Xbox. Notice how I thought about my money, and how I would use it for myself and all the things that I wanted. I didn’t consider money as a resource that God wanted me to use for His glory. I didn’t think about how I could use it to help others. I just thought about something I deserved to use on myself. But noticed that Paul saw the gifts that he received not as something he sought for himself, but so that the church may gain a heavenly profit. Because he says he is fully supplied.

Now this does not mean you can’t enjoy food, or have a nice home, or get things for yourself. But what we should consider is if we are giving back to God what He has given us. Even your allowance, or the money you made cutting someone’s grass is money that God has provided for you to give Him glory. Because what we should see is how what we have is helping us glorify God. Or one way to see it is, what are we accruing wealth for.`

On the other hand it allows you to enjoy the gifts that you receive. Because the gifts you receive are not things that you “need” but are an overabundance of what God supplies. Paul even says that he doesn’t covet getting gifts because “he was content to abide by whatever circumstances the Lord appointed for him”. It is like on Christmas. If you see the gifts that you are receiving as things that you “need” than if you get anything less than what you wanted you aren’t going to be happy. If you really wanted the new PS5 or the new game, or you really wanted that new phone, or you really wanted that new pair of jeans or new shoes. Whatever it is, if you don’t get that thing but you get all of these other things that are nice, than you won’t be happy you are going to be upset at whatever is not that thing. Then your parents, or whoever it is, gave you the gifts is going to not feel rewarded for their generosity. BUT if you are content with what you have, if you are not seeking anything, then whenever you receive the gift than you are thankful for it and it allows the one who gave the gifts to be blessed because their giving became a gift, because they brought you joy not matter what they gave you.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 CSB

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this act of grace. I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.

It says they gave “according to the depth” which means they gave out of “rock bottom poverty”. They didn’t have anything yet they still gave what they could.

Then notice what he says at the end, that he doesn’t want them to have hardship, but that if God gives you more and there is someone in need than give, so that in times where you are hurting others may give to you. If we are the body of Christ than we make sure that each has what they need to provide for their needs. And instead of thinking “I really wanted that money for Starbucks or “I was saving up for this things” you give joyfully knowing that you are providing for a need.” And you may also think “I don’t have money, I’m in middle school.” But when you give up something that you really want to do for the joy of another. Or when you do something to help someone else. Or when you give up a gift or money you are going to receive for something you know could help someone else. And you do this knowing that the Lord will bless you in return.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 CSB

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

Notice Paul says here “Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works” Rich in good works means not just rich with money, but rich with the way that you live and treat and care for others.

Paul calls our giving a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” That is, what they gave was something that to God was good, it was something He enjoyed.

Knowing God’s truthfulness bring you peace

Paul says that God will provide for their needs from “the riches in His glory.” God is so abundantly full of riches that we can know that God will come through on His promises.

Let’s say I came to you and I said “Hey, could you go and buy this one million dollar house for me? If you go and buy it for me, I will come back and pay you more than what you bought it for.” What would you say to me? You would probably doubt that I had the money to do that, and you probably wouldn’t do it because you would fear that trusting me would lead you to be in a worse position than when you started.

Now let’s say that Elon Musk came to you and said the same thing. You would say “yeah I can do that” cause you have plenty of confidence that Elon Musk is good for the money that he said that he had.

Paul calls us to trust that the Lord will supply our needs because His riches are greater than anything that the world has. This means that he knows He can give and receive and be confidant that the Lord will provide for His needs.

And for Paul, this gives him peace. It gives him confidence to not worry about how much he has, it removes any fears or doubts. He knows that the Lord will sustain him. We can trust that the Lord is good for it because Paul says that they are “in Christ Jesus”. Jesus rising from the dead proves God’s power, and Jesus brings us the blessings that the Father promised us. So if we have Christ than we know that we possess everything that the Lord has promised us.