2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14 ESV, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 ESV, Psalm 49:1-20 ESV, Proverbs 22:20-21 ESV
Daily Verse: “But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.” (2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV)
PERISSEUO (4052): “To superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous, also to cause to superabound or excel. Is used of faith and grace, 2 Cor. 8:7.”[i]
Superabound.
Paul wants the Corinthians to follow the example of the Macedonians. Facing persecution and struggling with finances, the Macedonians willingly gave all they had to God. Since the Corinthians didn’t have the same challenges, Paul felt they should provide even more freely.
Appealing to the Corinthian’s desire to exhibit their spirituality, Paul shines the light on giving. The Corinthians should also excel in grace through generosity if they excel in faith, knowledge, and love.
Generosity with our stuff goes against the culture of today. People hold onto what they have, afraid of losing it. Nothing we have on earth will last; material things pass away. But investing in God’s kingdom creates a treasure that will never end.
Excel in grace.
Superabounding in grace means holding the material things of this world loosely. Instead of placing faith in money, put it in Jesus. Christ never owned a home, didn’t sleep on a comfortable mattress or wore Nike tennis shoes, but He gave all for us.
No one can outgive God in any way, not financially or in grace. Jesus forgave sins we can’t even remember committing. Each day we can excel in generosity, whether money, time, or possessions; giving all to God takes intention.
Decide today to superabound in grace. When you see a need, meet a need. Remember, you can’t outgive God; He forgave you more than you know. Sharing the gift God gave you helps others learn about Christ and find the peace that surpasses all understanding, lasting long after the things of this world pass away.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 199) Thomas Nelson
