Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)
We are looking at the benefits of generous giving. Today, I want us to look at giving with the right attitude. From the verse above, let us consider the attitude in which God wants us to give.
We are to give:
- Thoughtfully
what he has decided in his heart
He wants us to think about this, to use our brains. God did not create us as robots, but to be able to think for ourselves with a freewill. The arguments for generous giving are before us, but, nevertheless, he wants us to give thoughtfully. Check it out for yourself, read the bible and see, don’t just accept what I am telling you.
- Enthusiastically
not reluctantly
We get excited about 22 players kicking a leather bag of wind around a pitch of grass; but God wants us to get excited about our giving. When we appreciate what God will do with our giving, when we begin to see for ourselves, people being blessed, both materially and emotionally; then we will get enthusiastic about our giving.
- Voluntarily
not…under compulsion
God is not into manipulation; he never tries to pressurise or persuade us to do his will. Besides, manipulation doesn’t work in the long term. My job as a Pastor is not to manipulate but to motivate. To motivate you to follow God’s laws because that pleases God, because they work, because you will be blessed as a result and because others will also be blessed.
- Cheerfully
for God loves a cheerful giver
God loves people who love to give. Because God is a generous God and because he wants you and me to be more like him; he delights to give to you and loves it when we have the same attitude to giving that he has.
If you want to please God, then give generously. Seek to excel in your giving, just as God wants you to excel in everything (2 Corinthians 8:7). He doesn’t try to force you to give, it’s up to you to decide for yourself. Finally, God is not against you having possessions, having “things”; but he is against “things” having you.
Hope you have a great week.
Douglas