God's Blessings

           And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8)

 

          Continuing my look at my homework, the instructions list three principles drawn from the passage. The first is “God is able to make all grace abound toward me. A life without lack is a gift, not a merely human accomplishment.” This morning as I consider this idea, something I’ve shared (and I’m 99.9% sure I didn’t come up with it myself,) the idea that kindness is lending someone your strength, came to mind. We cannot give someone else our strength, we can only use it on their behalf, or loan it to them. To give it to them would require that we somehow lose it ourselves, while they gain it. Technically, loan isn’t even the right word, because when we loan something, we tend to expect something in return, but it’s closer than give.

          I found grace defined as “courteous goodwill.” But goodwill can be a passive thing. Courteous goodwill can be a smile, a wave, and nothing more. This was one of the problems I had with an organization I was once part of. The leadership preached about helping, helping, helping… and when I said, “Help!” they said, “Go on, you can do it.” They showed positive, courteous, goodwill as they sat on their hands. That’s courteous goodwill, but it’s not grace. Grace is active. It was grace that led Jesus to die on the cross, because my dying for my sins would serve no purpose. It is by grace that God is at work in me, to conform me to the image of His Son, because I can’t get there myself (though I seem incapable of not trying.) But always, grace involves doing something (or sometimes, refraining from doing something negative.)

          This means that if God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that He is able to act positively. That brings me back to my choice of whether I believe what Scripture says or believe what I tend to believe if I’m not being watchful about my beliefs. It requires that I be aware and wary of my thoughts. It also requires that I remember that the grace is a gift, not something I can earn – because if I could earn it, I wouldn’t need it. In other words, one of the requirements of grace is that the one receiving it be humble and courteous in return.

          It comes to mind also that when we are given grace, we should use it to become “like God.” That doesn’t mean that we declare ourselves lord of reality and dictate what others must do or believe, but that we actively give grace to others. And on the flip side of this, showing grace doesn’t mean accepting, approving, celebrating, or empowering something that is wrong. It was pointed out in class that Jesus sometimes does go with us to places He knows we should not go – but He’s already born the consequences of our sin, and He can and will remain with us, guiding us out of the messes we make of our lives. We tend to dismiss or reject those who don’t live as we advise or dictate. It’s our first resort, and God’s last.

          So as the principle says, “Life without lack is a gift, not merely a human accomplishment.” But what grace looks like isn’t always what we want to look like. Sometimes, it’s giving us the time to do it ourselves or fail and seek God’s aid. Sometimes, it’s the money, strength, or encouragement we need. Sometimes, it’s a partner. And sometimes, it’s a gentle nudge (or a strong push) in another direction.