Cheerful Giver

2 Corinthians 9:6-7                

I want to ask you a question, who is the greatest giver you have ever known?

Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”  Jesus Christ left His riches and the glory of His heavenly kingdom to “graciously give us all things.”  1 Corinthians 2:12 says, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”

Our greatest motivation for generous and cheerful giving should be that it honors and glorifies God.  Proverbs 3:9-10 says “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

When we give with no feeling, willingness, or enthusiasm, are we being a cheerful giver?  When we give because we feel like we are being forced to give, are we being a cheerful giver?  The question then becomes why do we feel that way?  It comes down to being good stewards of not only of our money but also our talents and time.  Everything we have, including the very breath we breathe is a gift from God.

When we give cheerfully, which we can do when we are good stewards of the all the things God has so graciously given to us, we are honoring and glorifying God by reflecting God to a broken world.

 

Today in Prayer
Colossians 3:23 

• In what or where does your daily effort go?
• Pray that the Spirit reveals areas in your life, that are under your span of control, where your effort may be more efficiently used in the furtherance of the Kingdom.
• Pray that your efforts are given from your heart in everything that you do.

“We should never think that once we have given some money and time to
the Lord that the rest is ours to do with as we please. All that we have belongs to God,
so He should be taken into consideration in everything we do.” – Theodore Epp