“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. “
2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV
This is a season to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, spend quality time with our loved ones and show love. Well, what better way to show love than to give?
It is by how you give, that one can tell how much you love. God showed us how to love by giving His only begotten Son, His most prized possession to us (Romans 5:8, John 3:16).
Some people wonder why God sent just one man to save the entire world, the same way some wondered why Jesus singled out the widow who gave ‘chicken change’ when there were others who donated millions (Luke 21:1-4). They don’t know that giving has more to do with the heart than the substance. Mother Theresa didn’t stutter when she said, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
It’s all about the heart, and our anchor scripture says it all. When you give, do so with a cheerful heart because that’s what God loves. You have freely received from God and you are to freely give to others.
In case you are still wondering how to give, the answer is “freely and cheerfully”.
The reason some people do not freely and cheerfully give is that they do not understand the purpose of giving. Giving is not an obligation to fulfill but rather a gift and a privilege to enjoy. Think about it. You, who didn’t have enough for yourself a few years ago, now have enough to give to others, support your local assembly, and put a smile on someone’s face. Isn’t that something to be grateful for?
Giving is one thing both the giver and the receiver can benefit from. Through your generosity, people can experience the life-changing power of God’s word. Imagine being the vessel that makes a person believe in God again. It is more rewarding than you can ever imagine.
A minister once said, “Money is not the only commodity that is to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love, or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.”
Take a cue from the quote above. It doesn’t always have to be money or material things; there is so much you can give. Do you have old clothes, shoes or books that someone can benefit from? If not, you can always dedicate your time and skills to helping those around you. The most important thing is to give generously and cheerfully.
As the year closes out, determine to be more intentional about giving.
We have rounded off our Bible Reading Plan for the year. If you are yet to finish, take the rest of the year to catch up. We are cheering you on!