Blessings in Abundance – November 16, 2025 – Eddington Presbyterian Church

Deuteronomy 26:1-11, II Corinthians 9:6-15
November 16, 2025

I was going back and forth about the title of this sermon. And of course, I’m always thinking about how it looks on our sign! But it was hard to decide. Because Paul says so much in this passage from Second Corinthians. And yes, it’s about Stewardship. But it’s also about grace and abundance and blessings. It’s all one big picture to him!

So I thought of the title, “Sowing the Seeds of Grace.” That picks up on the idea of “reaping and sowing.” But then I thought, “Grace in Abundance.” That’s ok. But then there’s also the idea of God’s blessings. So I finally decided to combine all those thoughts into the title we have today. “Blessings in Abundance.”

I like the word “Abundance.” I’ve talked about that over the years. In fact, you may remember me talking about that in one of my very first sermons here at Eddington! And on that day, and whenever I’ve talked about it since then, I’ve tried to point out what we in the church should know. That is, that “abundance” means more than just the abundance of “things.” When we talk about abundance, it’s about the abundant life. That’s what the Bible says.

I’ve also pointed out that abundance is the reason Jesus came to this earth in the first place! He said it himself. In John’s Gospel, he said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Later on, John would say that’s the reason he wrote his Gospel. He said, “These things I have written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and in believing, you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) Those are two key words in all of John’s Gospel – “belief” and “life.” (In my first Youth Group, we studied John, and I had those kids saying those two words like Pavlov’s dogs! “Belief and life!”)

That’s all part of the big picture of the Gospel – the Good News of Jesus Christ! We believe, and we have life. And, as Jesus said, we have it more abundantly!

Now, I have to say that some Christians don’t see that. Some Christians are happy just with the “life” part of that. And to them that means “eternal life.” If we believe, we have eternal life. That’s it. But that’s not the end all for God. That’s not the only reason he sent his only Son! Although it’s a good reason! Don’t get me wrong. But what’s the reason Jesus says God sent his son? “For God so loved the world!” That’s the first thing. He sent his Son because he loved the world! God loves us! We are his creations! He loves us like children! And he wants not just life for us! He wants abundant life! And he wants us to have “blessings in abundance!”

All of that comes out in Paul’s writings. Even here, where he’s talking about Stewardship, where he’s talking about contributions for the Christians in Jerusalem, his words are full of the Grace and blessings of God. “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may have enough of everything, and may provide in abundance for every good work!” (II Corinthians 9:8)

For Paul it’s about more than just meeting people’s needs. Paul had been given glimpses into the glories of God’s kingdom. He – the angry vindictive Pharisee, hell bent on stamping out the church – met the living Christ. He saw the glory of God! And he became acutely aware of the way God loves us and blesses us! And he wanted the people to know that. He wanted them to see the big picture! He now knew that life here on earth should be more than just mere existence! Way more!

Remember, when Jesus said those words, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly,” who was he speaking to? He was speaking to the Pharisees – and to the crowd that was there listening. He had just given sight to a man who was born blind. That was one of his biggest miracles! And right away we’re told that there was a “division among the Pharisees.” As John describes it, some of them said Jesus was a sinner. He couldn’t be from God because he had performed this “miracle” on the Sabbath. If you remember, he had spit on the ground and made clay to put on the man’s eyes. That was “work.” That was forbidden on the Sabbath! But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such things unless God is with him?” That was the division. And that division among the leaders continued until long after Jesus’ death!

As you’ve also heard me say before, I don’t think Paul – that is, Saul, the Pharisee – just popped on the scene when Stephen was stoned in Acts 7. I think he was there all along. I think he was there watching Jesus, along with all the others. He was hearing what he said. And he was probably not liking it! He may even have been one of the unnamed Pharisees who questioned Jesus and tried to trap him in his words. And of course, on the day of this healing, I think it’s safe to say he was one of the ones who said Jesus was a sinner. He may even have been one of the ones who wanted to stone him.

But, as time went on, I think Paul remembered. I think he remembered what he heard Jesus say, and his words stuck with him. And I think remembering Jesus’ words was part of what transformed him, after he met him on that Damascus road.

So here in our passage for today, that same Pharisee was telling the Corinthians – and us – about God’s “blessings in abundance.” And I think they were all about the blessings he had heard Jesus talk about. Now they were blessings he knew himself! And now he was telling the people about the blessings they had been given, and would continue to be given, and the blessings they would now give to others. And they would give those blessings by being the “cheerful givers” he had just told them about!

That’s so much a part of the big picture. And I think that same awareness of God’s blessings goes all the way back to Deuteronomy. In the part we read today, the people were instructed to give of their “first fruits.” But they were told to do so remembering what God had done for them! Their giving was to be an act of gratitude, not one of obligation. It was to be their way of remembering that all they had was from God in the first place. And I think Paul echoes that same spirit here.

That’s the big picture! “Blessings in Abundance!” But that’s too easy to forget, isn’t it? Too often we get caught up in our day to day activities. Too often we get lost in our day to day struggles. And we forget God’s blessings. Like too many people in the church, we forget the abundant life God wants for us, and like them, we get into that mode of thinking, that “eternal life” means something in the future – if only we’ve done good enough in this life.

Paul would say no. This is all way bigger than that! And I’m glad that he gives us all of these wonderful words about blessing and abundance, in the context of being good stewards. Because, in the big picture, we are stewards, not just of the physical things in life. We’re not just stewards of things like money and budgets. Although that’s part of this, too. But we are stewards of God’s Grace! And as we think of Stewardship, we need to see the big picture Paul is trying to paint for us here. We need to see this idea of “Blessings in abundance.” That’s the big picture!

So, Paul reminds us that God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance. He reminds us that Stewardship starts, not with our wallets, but with our hearts. God gives abundantly, so that we might live abundantly, in gratitude, in Grace, and in generosity.

And in the end, the abundant life Jesus offers isn’t measured in what we keep, but in what we share. So, as we get closer to our Stewardship dedication, let us think about how we’re not just dedicating our gifts, we’re dedicating our lives!

Prayer

Generous God, giver of every blessing, teach us to live with open hands and grateful hearts. Remind us that abundance is your gift, and generosity your call. As we give and as we serve, may our lives reflect your grace, and may everything we do overflow with thanksgiving. For we pray in the name of the one who gives us the abundant life, Amen.