What does it mean that God is able to make all grace abound (2 Corinthians 9:8)?

The close of the apostolic exhortation on giving is admirably in keeping with all we have had already. Not only does God love a cheerful giver, but He is able in His grace to see that there shall be means to give, and not in this form only, but for every good work. "There is that scatters, and yet increases." (Prov. 11:24.)

"And God is able to make every grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in every [thing], may abound unto every good work; as it is written, He scattered, he gave to the poor: his righteousness remains for ever." (Vers. 8, 9.) No doubt that God has now revealed Himself in Christ according to His own nature, in view of heaven and eternity; no doubt He has given us life in His Son and redemption through His blood and union with that glorified man at His right hand, that we might glory in nought but His cross here below, and count not life dear to serve the Lord in His way and our measure, as we wait for Him from heaven. But this does not hinder the government of God and the pleasure He takes in blessing large and generous hearts, as of old, so now. Special privileges do not forbid His general principles, and His power finds a way in His wisdom to harmonise all. And the apostle, who knew better than any what it was to suffer with Christ and for Christ, is just the suited one, out of his capacious mind and heart, to communicate the assurance of these His unchanged ways, for which he cites Psalm 112:9; the beautiful description of man blessed in the kingdom when divine judgment introduces it by-and-by. Then the fear of Jehovah and obedience will have might on the same side, and judgment will return to righteousness, and wealth in no wise corrupt it, but it endures for ever with a spirit of compassion and gracious consideration of others. There may be judicial ways peculiar to that day as looking on his enemies, and his horn exalted, etc.; but true righteousness, far from being hard, dispenses with liberal hand from that which grace supplies abundantly. Nor could it be otherwise in the estimate of a true heart that now, in the day when grace is vouchsafed in other and deeper ways, it should fail in this. It is not so however; and He who shows us His mercy beyond measure or thought is able to make every grace abound, and this that we might have the blessed favour of imitating Him here too, or as the apostle puts it to the Corinthian saints, "that ye, at every time having every kind of sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work," as it is written in the Psalms.

There is no need, we may by the way remark, of altering the force of "righteousness" here or elsewhere. It does not mean "benevolence" as the Geneva Version renders it with many a commentator, but comprehends it. (Cf. Matt. 6:1-2.) Righteousness means consistency with relationship; and what can be more consistent than generous remembrance of want in others, especially in the household of faith, on the part of those who own that all is of grace in their own case?

But this is not all. Not only is God able thus to do, but He, the God of all grace, acts accordingly. "But he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating will" supply and multiply your sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness, [ye] being enriched in everything unto all liberality which works out through us thanksgiving to God." (Vers. 10, 11) It is not a wish or prayer as in the Authorised Version, nor is it (with the same Version, the Vulgate, Luther, Calvin, etc.) correct to construe χορηγήσαι "minister" or supply (were this the true form) with ἄρτον εἰς βρ. ("bread for your food"). Compare Isaiah 55:10. It is an assurance that the God who amply provides for ourselves loves to furnish means as well as opportunities of blessing to others, as He delights in owning and rewarding these fruits of righteousness, which are really of His grace, as if they were ours and not of Him by us. The form of the sentence following is slightly irregular, the sense quite sure and plain, without introducing the parenthesis of the English or other versions. God would thus increase the fruits of their righteousness, "while ye are in everything being enriched with every kind of liberality, which is such as works out through us thanksgiving to God." The word translated "liberality" is given in Romans 12:8 as "simplicity," which is no doubt its literal force. But thence, from conveying the absence of excuse for not giving, it easily derived the sense here implied. The apostle acknowledges the source of all they had given — that they might abound in good works, reminds them of his own share in it whether in strengthening their zeal or in dispensing the fruit, and anticipates the thanksgiving of those about to be relieved by it rising up to God.

of giving such as is contemplated here. The effect upon the giver varies. If he gives sparingly he reaps sparingly; if he gives bountifully he reaps bountifully. Still, he reaps; and usually in spiritual things. He who sows seed by dispersing abroad what he has to give has to do with a God, "who is able to make all grace abound." ALL grace, be it noted — grace of every kind - grace in spiritual things and grace in material things. The consequence of this is that the liberal giver is "enriched in every way to all free-hearted liberality" (2 Cor. 9:11, N. Tr.). He is enriched by God so that his giving may go on and expand. This enrichment may not take the form of material things; it may please God rather to enrich him in spiritual things, so that he who began by giving a little money may end by dispensing a rich store of spiritual blessing. There is also, of course, the reward which the future will bring, the increase in the fruits of righteousness which may be expected in the coming days, but this is not the main point here.

The Apostle says much about the way the saints had cared for him in his need—they had been cheerfully showing practical Christianity, the liberal outcome of hearts which knew and loved God. He says, as it were. You have met my need according to God, “my God” (he individualizes it) shall fully meet your need He says an 2 Corinthians 9:8, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work.” God is able to make plenty flow into your pockets, so that you may have all sufficiency in all things to help on His work. He does not say He will do it, to the Corinthians, but “He is able” to do it. The Apostle was seeking to turn their thoughts to God and the knowledge of Himself as to giving, so that they might get the good of God’s ability to send them abundance for His service. Notice, too, chapter 8:9, in same connection. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” What grace for such an One to so do! Look at chapter 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” What grace to so give! He gave nothing short of the very best that heaven contained! He gave His Son!

Not only will He “supply” all your need, but it reads “fully supply”—not a bit of lack. And in accordance with “His riches in glory in Christ Jesus!” The call of the gospel is “according to” God’s purpose, so likewise we are “saved according to His purpose” (2 Tim. 1:9); and so here too the need of saints is met according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Verse 7. "Every man according as he purposes in his heart," etc. If liberality be, when contemplated on its lower side, sound policy, there is a higher motive which should regulate the duties of God's saints. Let love be without dissimulation (Rom. 12:9), and the act of charity express faithfully the purpose of the heart. Neither sorrow nor constraint must here have any place, for God is the centre and ultimate aim of all true kindness. As He has given, let each true child of His bestow. Let giving be regarded by believers not as a necessity, but as a privilege. For giving is God's own delight; we know Him solely by His gift unspeakable, and His heart is toward them always who imitate Him in His ways. In a dispensation of pure grace, none are obliged to give, save by the sweet compulsion of His love. There are no task-masters in the house of God. But each child of His has his allotted opportunities of proving, by the use he makes of them, both whose he is, and by what manner of spirit he is led.

Verse 8. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you," etc. They are not called upon to make an unremunerative sacrifice. He, for whose sake they are giving of their present store, is not unrighteous to forget any work of loving-kindness to His saints (Heb. 6:10), and He is able to requite abundantly the blessings rendered in His Name. If, for the love of Christ, they drew out their souls to His afflicted brethren, and satisfied His hungering poor with bread, He knew how to enrich them tenfold, both in this world and the next. His grace, which they had tasted, and in which they stood, should be the full supply of all their need. Their good desires should enlarge with their good practice, and His gracious provision should surpass their utmost wish.

The governmental results of giving are shown in 2 Corinthians 9. He that sowed sparingly should reap also sparingly, and he that sowed bountifully should reap also bountifully. God was able to make all grace abound towards the saints, so that they, having all sufficiency in all things, might abound in every good work, etc. These blessings were not given with the object of making the saints comfortable in this world, but that they might be enriched in everything unto all bountifulness; that they might have to give to him that needeth. (See vers. 5-11.)

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." Do you not see how such a scripture should enlarge our hearts, and enlarge our idea of Him and of what He is able to do? Having all grace we should abound to every good work.

Again he exhorts them to liberality in giving. He knew their willing mind and had boasted of it to them in Macedonia and told them they were ready a year ago. This had stimulated many. He hoped that they would measure up to this report and fall not behind in this expectation "lest our boasting should be in vain in this behalf." To encourage them in giving and carrying out what they had purposed, he speaks of the blessing: "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully." There is, then, blessing according to faithfulness in this ministry; as any other faithful ministry is not forgotten of God. Giving must not be grudgingly or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. God Himself delights to give. In infinite love He gave His only begotten Son, and He delights in all who imitate Him in His ways. There is no compulsion in giving save the constraint of His love.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." Such a loving ministry is not an unremunerative service. He is able to make up to all who, out of love, minister to the needs of poor and suffering and afflicted brethren. The apostle shows that thanksgiving to God would be the result of their loving ministry in giving. Three causes are specified:

As an encouragement for giving we quote the following words from the Bible: ‘But this is true, he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in the spirit of blessing shall reap also in blessing: each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Cor. 9:6–7). This does not need any explanation. We read in the next verse how God responds to our generosity: ‘God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work’.

For instance, giving is sowing, hence the laws of sowing and reaping apply to it. If seed be scattered with a sparing hand there is a scanty harvest: if with a bountiful hand, a bountiful harvest. It cannot be otherwise whether in nature or in connection with the things of God. In giving to others we are sowing grace; and the Apostle reminded them, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you" (verse 8). Verses 10 and 11 also speak of the harvest of blessing that will be reaped especially in things spiritual.

But the giving to be really pleasing to God must be cheerful giving. If done grudgingly, or because one is pushed into it, there is not much value in it in the sight of God. Every man will purpose in his heart according to the state of his heart. If our hearts are right, and enlarged by dwelling in the love of God, we shall give not only bountifully but cheerfully also. We shall give after the style of God Himself; and God loves those who are like Himself.

This gave occasion to Paul to tell them that God loved a cheerful giver, that reaping is according to sowing, and that the effect of their loving service was fourfold. It supplied the needs of the poor; it drew from them thanksgiving to God; bowed their knees in prayer for the givers; proved subjection to the gospel, by the grace of God manifested in the givers. He also assures them that God is able to make all grace abound, so that always having all sufficiency in all things they may abound to every good work, and recalls the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who left all His wealth in glory to become poor in order to enrich us, and concludes in a burst of thanksgiving to God for a gift which no words could set forth, no language describe, unspeakable!