“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” (II Corinthians 9:8)

The last phrase in this verse should cause many of us to consider why God gives us the material blessings that He does:

Why does God give us “an abundance”? The Apostle Paul writes here that it is NOT so that we may spend it on ourselves, and lead comfortable and even luxurious lives. Rather it says He gives us an abundance “FOR EVERY GOOD DEED.” In other words, God gives us material blessings so that we can us them to minister to others, help them, meet their needs — and so that God will be glorified through their thanksgiving when they have been helped by us.

This should cause many of us to reconsider our material blessings. Instead of thinking: “What can I buy myself with this unexpected money?” or this abundant provision, perhaps we ought rather to consider: “For what good deed did the Lord provide this blessing?” The reason He gave us this “abundance” is “for every good deed.” For what good deed is He expecting you use the abundance He has given you recently?