Abundance and Sufficiency
Whoa, pastor Brian Houston’s Wisdom Makes a Way plan ends with such a powerful devotional. One that might take me a few days to really absorb and process. Abundance and Sufficiency. Two words that are not a part of my regular vocabulary, but something on the surface I thought I understood. Today, instead of my thoughts ideas and views I will just share the plan with you. Enjoy.
The first nine chapters of Proverbs are filled with verses that speak about the rewards of wisdom, especially in connection to blessing, enduring wealth and riches, honour, long life and success. Perhaps you think that such verses are referring to spiritual blessing and riches in heaven - that these are reserved for heaven. But when we are in heaven, we won’t need such things as wealth or long life. These things proceed from heaven for sure, but if you don’t have a true revelation of God’s purpose for your life on earth, you won’t appreciate why the rewards of blessing are necessary while you’re here.
On the other hand, Scripture consistently contrasts the themes of being content with enough with God’s desire to bring abundant blessing to you. How is that supposed to work? Are these ideas contradictory? Look at what Paul understood about blessing in his letter to the Corinthians:
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)
Paul gives us a concise picture of the relationship between sufficiency and abundance. Both are for the believer, and both have a purpose in the believer’s life. The Amplified Bible draws more detail from the same verse,
"And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMP)
Do you think that scriptural ‘sufficiency’ means simply having enough to manage by God’s grace? Paul makes it clear that this sufficiency is God’s favour and blessing by His grace, so that no matter what, we won’t require help or support; and this sufficiency becomes an overflow of abundance for every good work. Nothing is overlooked and nobody misses out. That’s how these two themes – contentment and abundance – work beautifully together. It is the difference between posture and position; how I sit and where I sit. How do I sit? Content. Where do I sit? Blessed.
So, what does that mean for you and me?
It means that while we are content, we understand that our lives have a greater purpose and that our overflow and abundance enable us to spread the Gospel further afield than our own sphere.
It means we position ourselves to give and contribute to every good work of the Kingdom of God.
When you care about calling, you don’t have a problem with the idea of God blessing you because you understand that the blessing is also to enable you to fulfill His purposes in your life.
"[God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." 2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV)
God has saved you for purpose, called you for purpose, graced you for your purpose! This is why every believer in Christ needs to get a revelation of wisdom and believe to see wisdom fulfilled so that the fruit of wisdom that the Bible consistently teaches becomes a reality in your life.
I told you...that will take a while to fully process and absorb. Saved. Called. Graced, for purpose. YOU and I have a purpose! May you go into your day, week and this new decade aware God has saved you for purpose. We are called for this purpose, and graced for our purpose. May we all have this revelation of wisdom, and see that wisdom fulfilled! Amen.