And yet further, men will pray for you and feel drawn to you because you have obviously received a generous measure of the grace of God. J.B. Phillips

And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. NLT

In early years of ministry, like many pastors, I found that money was often short (or, at the very least tight). I am thankful for every experience, because I can truthfully say, along with many other believers, that I proved God’s faithfulness time and again. He showed that He knew exactly where I was, and that He cared, and He could and would provide.

I think of two occasions in particular when I received gifts from people I hardly knew. While I was profoundly thankful to God for His supply, I also felt a deep heart-bond with these people. Still today, many years later, I remember their names, and will always be grateful for their availability to be channels of blessing to others.

I think this is something of what Paul is saying will happen when the Corinthians give.

Today, of course, is Good Friday, and we remember that Jesus is the Father’s greatest gift to us. If He gave us His Son, to meet our greatest and gravest need, surely He will provide everything else that is needful? Paul puts it like this:

”He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 NIV

”He that did not hesitate to spare his own Son but gave him up for us all—can we not trust such a God to give us, with him, everything else that we can need?” J.B. Phillips

David Pawson told a story about a father whose son (also a David) went to China as a missionary. This dad said, ‘The greatest gift I ever gave to China was David. After that, everything was easy.’