See that Ye Abound in this Grace Also • Deshen Daily

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. (2 Corinthians 8:7, KJV)

Growing spiritually is both an expectation and a divine order for our natural and spiritual lives. Spiritually, growth occurs as we increase in kingdom virtues such as faith and love, as noted in 2 Corinthians 8:7. However, the Apostle Paul gives us a startling command: “see that ye abound in this grace also.” What is this grace that we must also grow in?

In the context of 2 Corinthians 8:1-2, Paul explicitly states what he means by this grace: the extremely generous giving attitude of the Corinthians in helping support the Christians in Jerusalem. So, Paul calls giving “a grace from God,” and adds the idea of growing also in this grace.

Giving is a grace from God. The meaning of grace here is a spiritual gift or a special ability that God gives. Here is a profound truth about giving: true and godly giving is an ability God puts in us, not a product of external manipulation or coercion. But that is not all. God loves giving from a willing heart, a cheerful giver. Even though He gives us the grace, He wants us to act upon it of our free will to give willingly.

Additionally, the term “also” is eye-opening. It means God expects us to grow in our giving ability just as we grow in faith, knowledge, and love. The way you give today should be different from what you gave five years ago.

One of the difficulties many of us have in the area of giving is that Satan has twisted it with wrong doctrine and greed, causing many Christians to have an unhealthy giving attitude. But Paul gives us two reasons to pay attention to our giving.

First, he says our giving proves who we are and what is in our hearts. Few things reveal what is in our hearts as much as how we handle our money, especially giving. Do you want to see what you believe, your priorities in life, or what you think? See how you spend your money. Paul says it this way:

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (2 Corinthians 8:8, KJV)

Giving proves the sincerity of love.

Second, our giving is associated with reaping. The idea of sowing and reaping financially is biblical, though the enemy has muddled it with bad intentions.

So here is what God is saying. Giving is a grace from God, and He loves a willing and cheerful giver. Additionally, growing in our giving is part of growing spiritually. So the Lord says,

“see that ye abound in this grace also.”

Meditate

What is the meaning of the term “grace” in 2 Corinthians 8:7? And why does God call giving grace?

Apply the Word

You might have heard me say this before: Satan is using money to destroy the Church Christ is building through unhealthy giving practices. He uses greed, manipulations, and false teachings about giving to wreak havoc among believers. Yet, be careful. Giving is of God, and not only does He want us to give, but He commands us to grow in our giving. So grow in this grace.