“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.”-{ 2 Cor 9:11-14 NLT}
People are motivated by various things and have various ambitions, but what about a GODLY AMBITION in regards giving or been on the receiving end of having a need met, namely GOD GLORIFIED!
If you read 2 Corinthians 9, Note the GREAT OPPORTUNITY When a NEED Exists and is KNOWN and God’s people in this case gave out of their poverty, not reluctantly, begrudgingly but lovingly concerned for their brothers and sisters whose need had been made known to them. Note what happens
- NEED KNOWN– 9:1,5.
- NEED MET- THE RESULT? ” MANY THANKSGIVINGS “OVERFLOWING TO GOD…”– 2 Corinthians 9:12
- GOD IS GLORIFIED! 2 Cor 9:13 -The ultimate end in meeting NEEDS , Motivated from love from Christ and the choosing of RESPONDING to such Love by CHOOSING to meet the needs of those whom we can is ultimately… GOD IS GLORIFIED…
A Practical way to GLORIFY GOD, is to meet a NEED and what often happens when a person, or perhaps when your need is met? Your heart, voice arises to say words to the effect,” THANK YOU LORD…” and in your thanksgiving to the need being met- you turn towards God and Thank Him and HE IS GLORIFIED…
LOOKING AT “NEEDS…” IN A NEW WAY…AN ETERNAL VIEW. At times you may find yourself in such a place and KNOW this is an opportunity for others to meet your need and in doing so, DO GOOD, EXPRESS LOVE, GLORIFY GOD OR perhaps it is your OPPORTUNITY to know of someone in a place of “NEED,” and it is a gigantic opportunity to DO GOOD, EXPRESS LOVE AND SEE GOD GLORIFIED!
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” – {Matthew 25:40}. Jesus does not separate our treatment of one another from Himself. What another wonderful MOTIVATION- To DO GOOD, EXPRESS LOVE, GLORIFY GOD, and KNOW the way we treat others, is in exact proportion to our treatment of the LORD JESUS! “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. “-{Hebrews 13:16}
Learning to Look at “needs,” from some verses from His Word, on some aspects of “needs,” and responses, attitudes, Godly Ambition and ACTIONS to be taught, cultivated and applied…with a VIEW TO HIM, “A VIEW FROM ABOVE”– as recorded in His Word.
Too often, we ask, “what will this mean to me?” rather what will this mean to Him?
Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 teaches, we will always have enough to do good with… together they made a difference, GOD Was GLORIFIED. Now, is our opportunities, yours and mine- in our generation to do likewise!
Do you want to Glorify God? So often we think of it in some mystical way or unattainable, when in reality He simplifies it for us in this verse, See a Need? Meet the need as you have opportunity and in doing so… you GLORIFY GOD! And Many thanksgivings are offered to Him and GOD IS GLORIFIED!
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “-{Matt 5:14}.