enough, & then some

2 Corinthians 9:8


God will generously provide for all you need.

Then you will always have everything you need

     & plenty left over to share w/ others. (NLT, 1st ed.)



God can give you everything that you need,

     so that you may always have sufficient both for yourselves and for giving away to other people. (J. B. Phillips)



And God can give you more blessings than you need,

     and you will always have plenty of everything.

You will have enough to give to every good work. (Easy To Read version)



God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything,

     more than just ready to do what needs to be done. (The Message)



God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine

     so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way

     and you’ll have more than enough to share.(The Voice)



And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance,

     so that you may always and under all circumstances


     and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. (Amplified)



Is this a promised we can hang on to?

If so, how should that impact the way we live in this world where our well being seems precarious, threatened, spurious, and so downright unpredictable.

I don't think what Paul is talking about here is that God will provide for us in fantastically abundant financial ways.

It does say in the 1st translation (NLT) that we will have everything we "need" - and we all know "need" is a whole lot different than "want"!

But every translation & paraphrase indicates that no matter how much we have, we should share it w/ others.

Hmmmmmmmmm....

That certainly goes against the grain of the present cultural norm & thinking!



So what is Paul saying about the nature of God here in regards to us?

That we will have what we need & have enough to share with others.

Think about that today, & ask yourself if you / we really believe that.