If we find ourselves making excuses in ministry about why we didn’t do something or didn’t do a better job, we need to work through how this verse relates.
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. (2 Cor. 9:8, NASB)
Principles from 2 Corinthians 9:8 that Apply to Ministry
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about their ministry to the Macedonian church in 2 Corinthians 9. He told them that they needed to be prepared to follow through with their commitment and should do so generously and cheerfully. Though these verses refer to giving, we could apply the principles in 2 Corinthians 9:8 to any kind of ministry.
- What God wills, He provides for. — “And God is ABLE to make”
- God’s provision to do His will is complete, not just a trickle or portion of grace. — “ALL grace ABOUND to you”
- God will always come through with the grace to do His will, no exceptions. — “so that in ALL things at ALL times”
- Though God will give us everything essential for accomplishing His will, He may or may not give us excess. — “having ALL you NEED”
- God’s objective in giving us grace to do His will isn’t that we keep His provision for ourselves but that we have in order to give. — “you will ABOUND in EVERY good work”
Do Some Soul Searching If You Find Yourself Making Excuses in Ministry
If we have problems following through on commitments, the problem is with us, not with God. Before making excuses for not doing ministry, or doing it well, let’s ask God to search our hearts (Ps. 139:23-24) as we seek to answer these questions.
Is this really God’s will?
Perhaps we’re struggling because we’re pursuing something that’s not truly God’s will. We may have good intentions but not God’s intentions. We may have good ideas but not God’s ideal. — Keep praying about it to make sure you’re on page with God.
Are my motives right?
Perhaps in the depths of our hearts, we want God’s grace so we’re blessed. While God does take care of us, ultimately He gives us His grace so we can serve others. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Pet. 4:10) — Learn to be generous and faithful with the little God gives. He could be waiting to give more until our motives are right.
Am I missing what God is actually doing?
Perhaps we’re putting expectations on God as to how He must operate and therefore don’t see what He’s putting into place for us. God provides for ministry in a variety of ways, not just monetarily. He might be providing but we don’t see it because we’re looking elsewhere. — Let God be God, and we won’t give up just because we don’t see it. God knows what’s truly needed to accomplish His will. He sees the big picture.
Maybe instead of making excuses in ministry, what we need is to ask God for a restart based on His abundant grace.
Church Leaders, Also Read: God’s Power for the Church: The Grace of God