Praise God, the source of our blessings, so so many blessings!
By Dean Collins
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. . . .”
If you were raised in the church or attended one regularly before the turn of the millennium, you probably can quote the rest of that verse and sing it, too. The church where I grew up always sang it after the offering. The deacons walked to the front with the filled offering plates while the congregation, prompted by the organ, was singing.
The doxology, of course, is a song of praise that expresses gratitude to God as the provider of all things. In many places in Scripture, we find songs, psalms, or Scripture verses that are doxologies, offerings of praise that are prompted by the awareness of the greatness of God.
Marvelous grace
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul gives the Corinthians a description of generosity and a challenge to participate in providing for the needs of other believers in the surrounding geography. Verse 1 reminds us that all blessings, all provision, even life itself, flow from the grace of God. We didn’t do anything to earn salvation, receive forgiveness, or benefit from God’s provision of daily bread. It all flows from the wonderful and marvelous grace of God!
Paul described a group of believers who, because of God’s grace, generously gave out of what they had, even though they didn’t have much. But because they gave, community needs were being met. As Paul continued, he reminded his readers that Jesus first gave to us and modeled how we are to give.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. “
Our Lord Jesus came from the riches of Heaven and surrendered his life to poverty and shame so that by his grace we might become rich. Not rich in a financial sense, but rich because we have everything we need and more because of God’s grace. Yes, everything we need and more.
As Paul finishes this section of his discussion on generosity he quotes a verse from Exodus 16:18:
“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
The reference comes from the narrative in the Exodus story where, after being delivered from Pharaoh’s oppression and bondage, the Israelites find themselves in the wilderness with nothing to eat. The Israelites began to grumble about Moses bringing them out of Egypt to watch them starve to death in the desert. But God had a plan to provide for his children long before they grumbled. We should probably remember that when we are in need as well. There is no need our gracious God is unaware of.
God provided manna from Heaven. The apostle Paul’s point is that God provides exactly what we need, neither more nor less. God’s children scooped up enough to eat to their fill; each had just the right amount, and there was none left for the next day. One could not “save their manna” for a rainy day. God’s provision was just in time and just the right amount.
Filled with gratitude
I suspect that like me, you wish God had a different plan. When I have a deficit I prefer having God provide today’s needs plus a few months’ supply so I don’t have to worry. God’s answer is, “Don’t worry, but trust me.” The rest of his plan is that people who have experienced the grace of God are so filled with gratitude and love that they partner with God in sharing with others what they have been blessed to receive.
Our sin may not be grumbling and complaining, though I have already confessed I am capable of both and have done so many times. Our problem might be stinginess. Or worse, we might simply have developed an appetite and love of money. I am not accusing, just asking the question.
I read or heard Tim Keller describe how we have trouble recognizing when we have fallen in love with our money and our stuff. His explanation was that there are many sins that we absolutely know we are committing when we commit them. If someone commits adultery they fully realize that they are sleeping with someone else’s wife or husband.
However, when we fall in love with money, we don’t actually realize it unless the Holy Spirit, through God’s Word or prayer or the comments of a loving friend, helps us see that we tend to hold on to far more than we need and struggle to loosen our grip when others are in need.
Paul’s challenge is to remember the grace of God. What has God done for us that we didn’t deserve? More than we can list on the page. Our response might be to break out into the doxology because of all God has given. And in response to God’s grace, we then find ways to be gracious to others in their time of need.
Father, thank you for your grace. We praise you as the source of all blessings. Because of your love and grace, we ask that your Holy Spirit prompt us to the places and people who have need that we might be an extension of your love and grace today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Exodus 16:18 ESV
