And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

Recently while doing a bible study of this verse, I found a quote that said that “abounding” is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom. This amaryllis was a gift from my neighbor at Christmas. The instructions said that you didn’t have to do anything to the plant, not even water it, just watch it bloom. Wow! That’s the kind of plant we all can enjoy.

The first picture was taken on December 29^th. By January the eighth all four buds had opened to full blooms. Even though the flowers only lasted for a few days before beginning to fade, the bulb can be planted and will grow and flower again. Of course, it will be around a year before that happens! So you receive the gift, with anticipation for it to bloom, enjoy the beautiful flowers, dig a hole and plant the bulb, wait and hope that it will grow and bloom again next year. That seems like a lot of “work” for something that starts out so simply.

Not many things in our world today are simple. Buying groceries used to be easy: make a list and pick up the items. Now there are so many varieties of almost every kind of food, from cereal to chips to bread, and the list goes on. And when it is time to pay, do you insert, swipe, tap, or be on of those rarities who still uses cash!

In verses 6-7 of I Corinthians 9, God talks about the choices we make in giving. We decide in our heart whether to give sparingly or generously, reluctantly or under compulsion, or the way God loves—a cheerful giver.

Verses 8-11 reveal that God is able to bless abundantly in all things at all times, having all you need. That sounds like what we want, but the end of verse eight says the purpose is to abound/bloom in every good work. And verse eleven says you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion—and this will result in thanksgiving to God.

So take time to “count your blessings” and look for opportunities to give to others, whether through finances, gifts, time, service, words, etc. Then as you give thanks to God for His gifts to you, others will be blessed and give thanks to God also.

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  (II Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV)