Click here to download document and save to your computer

God’s Will Is Abundance

By Pastor J.D. Link

Abundant Grace Fellowship Church, Blanco, TX

Since Christmas time, the “season of giving” is upon us, I thought it would be a good time to recognize not only the greatest gift mankind could ever be given (Who of course is Jesus Christ); but also to recognize the greatest gift giver Who has ever been, who is God The Father. Every good and perfect gift comes from The Father of lights (Jam 1:17). He is El Shaddai, The all sufficient God Who is more than enough. God doesn’t do anything half-way. He saves to the uttermost (Heb 7:25); He gives abundant life (Jn 10:10). Abundant means “with increase; excessive; more than is necessary; above and beyond what is needed”. That’s God’s will for us! If you’re thinking I’m just talking about finances, you’re thinking way too small. God’s wants us to abound in everything (2Cor 8:7)! Throw out some religious tradition (Mk 7:8, 13), and let’s look at The Word of God.

God wants us to abound in faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and God’s kind of love (2Pt 1:5-8). God wants us to abound in living out our Christian walk and pleasing God (1Thess 4:1). Our God has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence (Jesus is our wisdom, 1Cor 1:30) (Eph 1:8). Our God is abundant in goodness and truth (Ex 34:6). God wants us to abound in hope, as well (Rom 15:13).

Do you see a pattern here? God wants us to abound in mercy, as He is abundant in mercy (1Pt 1:3). We can abound in revelations from the Scriptures, because Paul the Apostle did; thank God he wrote it down for us (2Cor 12:7)! As children of God, we have abundance of peace (Ps 37:11, 72:7, Jer 33:6); peace that passes understanding (Phi 4:7). God’s will is for us to abound in love toward one another (1Thess 3:12, 2Thess 1:3, Phi 1:9).

God’s grace is abundant towards us (2Cor 4:15, Rom 5:17)! In fact, it is exceeding abundant (1Tim 1:14)! Now that’s just over the top! Abundant already means excessive, more than necessary; but God’s grace even exceeds the excess! Give God the praise for his abundant grace! God’s grace abounds towards us, even when we blow it (Rom 5:20)! God’s consolation and comfort abounds toward us, even when we suffer (2Cor 1:5)! We should abound with rejoicing (Phi 1:26)! We should abound with joy, no matter what the circumstances are (2Cor 8:2)!

The Bible says we should also abound in giving (2Cor 8:7). God is a giver, an abundant giver; so should His children be. Not that the church or the preacher desires the gift (at least, they shouldn‘t), but that fruit may abound to the giver’s account (Phi 4:14-17). Also, because your offerings are a sweet smell, well pleasing to God (Phi 4:18). God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2Cor 9:8). However, this type of abundance depends on two things: 1. How much you give (vs. 6) 2. What your attitude is when you give (vs. 7). It also matters that you’re faithful (Prv 28:20), and this faithfulness in giving causes many thanksgivings to abound toward God (2Cor 9:12). We want to see God glorified!

Friendly warning: do not seek this abundance (Ecc 5:10, Luk 12:15, 1Tm 6:9). Seek God. Seek His Kingdom. Seek His righteousness. He will take care of the rest (Mt 6:33). Abundance is knowing the truth of God’s Word; it is a heart attitude; it is a mentality based on God’s all-sufficiency. It has nothing to do with the number of trinkets you have on the shelf. Outward circumstances do not determine it. As Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.”