What does "He has scattered abroad" teach about God's provision and abundance? Setting the Scene “As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’” Paul quotes Psalm 112:9 to reinforce a truth about God’s generosity. The picture is of a sower flinging seed over a wide field—liberal, abundant, unconcerned about running out. That single phrase, “He has scattered abroad,” unlocks several lessons about divine provision. What “scattered abroad” Tells Us About God’s Provision • Lavish, not limited – God’s giving resembles a farmer casting handfuls of seed, not a miser counting kernels. – Psalm 145:16: “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” • Purposeful generosity – Seed is scattered so that a harvest may follow; God’s gifts are aimed at producing righteousness and thanksgiving (2 Corinthians 9:10-11). • Continuous flow – “His righteousness endures forever.” God’s giving nature is not a one-time event but a permanent attribute (James 1:17). • Directed toward need – The seed lands “to the poor.” Divine abundance consistently bends toward those lacking resources (Psalm 68:10; Matthew 6:26). God’s Pattern of Generous Provision in Scripture 1. Old Testament witness – Psalm 112:9 depicts the righteous man mirroring God’s character by scattering gifts. – Proverbs 11:24-25: “One scatters, yet increases all the more.” 2. Teaching of Jesus – Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you… poured into your lap.” – Matthew 14:13-21: Five loaves scattered among thousands become overflow. 3. Apostolic encouragement – 2 Corinthians 9:10: “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” Abundance Flowing Through the Believer • God gives seed (resources); believers cast it out in faith. • The act of scattering positions us to witness multiplication. • Result: “You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11). • Thanksgiving rises to God; generosity becomes worship. Living Confidently in God’s Overflow – Trust the Source: Provision begins with the One whose hand never empties. – Hold resources loosely: Seed kept in the bag never yields a crop. – Expect multiplication: God attaches harvest promises to obedient generosity. – Anchor in righteousness: Abundance serves enduring, God-honoring purposes, not fleeting self-indulgence. “He has scattered abroad”—a short phrase, yet it paints the boundless horizon of God’s provision and invites us to live open-handed in the certainty that His storehouses are never bare. |
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