SCRIPTURE:
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
2 Corinthians 9:7-8
OBSERVATION:
God doesn’t love all giving? No.
So does that mean it’s okay not to give? Also no.
So what is the point? To engage in the kind of giving that God loves. And what kind of giving does He love? Cheerful giving.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT, God tells us through the Apostle that “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” God loves cheerful givers. That word “cheerful" is translated from the Greek work “hilaros,” which also means “joyous” and “prompt to do anything.”
Why does the Apostle specify this? Because our default in giving is more dreadful than cheerful. When giving, our flesh tends to focus on what we are losing, feel the uneasiness of having less, and fear not having enough in the future. Our natural tendency is not generosity. However, when we finally welcome Jesus into our lives, our natural response to knowing Him should be generosity. Why? Well, God gives us five of many reasons in this chapter alone.
1. Greater generosity results in greater returns.
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
In the kingdom of God, generosity is not a debt that results in loss; it is an investment that always yields a return. When we give, we can be cheerful because God will respond with a greater reward.
2. God has already given us things to give.
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
On your paycheck, you have taxes and bonuses. Taxes are money you lose; bonuses are gifts you gain. Generosity is not a tax; it is a bonus. God is not taking from you; He has given you a bonus––above and beyond what you actually need to live. When we give, we can be cheerful because God has already provided something for us to give.
3. God uses our generosity as a worldwide witness.
9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor…Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:9)
Because it is unnatural to give, supernatural generosity captures the attention of the world. When we give, we can be cheerful because God will use our generosity as a witness to the world that Jesus is Lord.
4. God will respond to our obedience with abundance.
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous…” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11a)
Generosity is not the choice to give; it is the choice to be obedient. God commands us throughout the Bible to give of our tithes (10% of our income) and our offerings (over and above the 10% as the Spirit prompts). When we give, we can be cheerful because we get the opportunity to show God that we trust and obey Him in a way that is meaningful to Him.
5. God uses our generosity to make a personal difference.
11…And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. (2 Corinthians 9:11b)
Changing the world starts with changing a life. The harsh reality is that there are people in this world who have great needs. And these people are loved by God just as much as He loves you. Sometimes, God’s answer to a person in need is you. When we give, we can be cheerful because we will make a difference in someone’s life, just like God has used other people to make a difference in yours.
APPLICATION:
Our problem with giving isn’t that we don’t have enough to give; it’s that we’re greedy in keeping more than we need. Cheerful giving isn’t an issue about possessions; it is an issue rooted in flawed perspectives. The way of the world is to take, but the way of God is to give. The world says we never have enough; God promises we always have enough. The world says to save for yourself; God says to bless it forward.
If you are not cheerful in giving––of time, money, or anything God has given you that could be a blessing to others––start with renewing your mind. Change your perspective. Ask yourself why you are giving. Because giving is not a checklist item that can be completed with no thought; it is a spiritual discipline that should be done with all your heart. It is not something you do to make yourself feel better; it is a privilege you get to do because God has gone above and beyond in providing for you.
Everything you have has first been given to you by God. And remember that with God, 90% is 100%. When God decided what to give you, He already took the generosity He has asked of you into account. When you give your 10%, it’s not that you only have 90% to live on; it’s that God gave you a 10% bonus above what you need. And that 10% bonus was given to you not to have the time of your life; God gave it to you to see if He can trust you.
As it is written in Malachi 3:10, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” God has given you what you need to give––so you can give cheerfully knowing that you don’t actually have less like your mind tries to tell you. For if you do not give cheerfully, you’re not just being greedy––you’re stealing from God. As Malachi writes in the preceding two verses, “8 Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.”
Don’t cheat God; give cheerfully. Generosity is not a problem; it is a privilege. Change your perspective on generosity, and as you do, God will use your generosity to make a difference in His Kingdom.
PRAYER:
Jehovah Jireh,
You are our provider. Thank you for every blessing we have, for every good thing we have, have had, and will ever have all comes from You. We repent for being greedy, reluctant, and disobedient in our generosity. We choose to give cheerfully because we know You, we love You, and we desire to trust and obey You. Receive our cheerful gifts as an offering of praise to You––our God who has given us exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could ever give You in our lifetimes. God, be praised through our giving. We love You, Lord. Thank You for loving us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
