Cheerful Givers

 


... “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide
all you need...
2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:7‭-‬8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

From these verses, we learn two important things about giving:

• Our giving should be cheerful. God does not want us to give begrudgingly or out of a sense of obligation. Instead, our giving should be motivated by love and joy. When we give cheerfully, we are reflecting the heart of God, who is the ultimate giver.

• God will bless us abundantly when we give cheerfully. Paul promises that when we give cheerfully, God will bless us so that we have all that we need and more. This doesn't mean that we will never experience financial hardship, but it does mean that God will provide for us in all things.

When we give cheerfully, we are not only blessing others, but we are also blessing ourselves. We are participating in God's work of love and redemption, and we are storing up treasures in heaven.

Here are some ways to put these principles into practice:

• Pray before you give. Ask God to reveal his heart to you and to show you how to give in a way that pleases him.

• Give cheerfully and generously. Don't be afraid to give more than you think you can afford. God is able to bless you abundantly, so give with a joyful heart.

• Give to causes that you are passionate about. When you give to something that you care about, it will be more likely to be cheerful giving.

• Give regularly. Don't wait until you have a lot of money to give. Make it a habit to give something to God on a regular basis, even if it's just a small amount.

When we give cheerfully and generously, we are not only blessing others, but we are also blessing ourselves and bringing glory to God.

In summary:

Here is a summary of 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 in 5 bullet points:

• Give what you have decided in your heart to give. Don't give reluctantly or under compulsion.

• God loves a cheerful giver. Give with a joyful heart.

• God is able to bless you abundantly. He will provide for you in all things.

• You will have all that you need. This doesn't mean you'll never experience financial hardship, but God will take care of you.

• You will abound in every good work. Your giving will help you to do more good in the world.

In short, God loves it when we give cheerfully and generously, and he will bless us for it.

                      ***

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God our Place of Safety

Image
  Psalms 62:8 CEV‬ Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each of your concerns. God is our place of safety. Let's delve deeper into Psalm 62:8: 1. Trust God: This phrase emphasizes the importance of faith and reliance on God. Trusting God means acknowledging His sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness. It involves surrendering our worries and fears to Him, knowing that He is in control. 2. Always tell Him each of your concerns: God invites us to share our hearts with Him openly. We can pour out our worries, anxieties, and joys before Him. Prayer becomes a powerful way to communicate with God, expressing our deepest feelings and seeking His guidance. 3. God is our place of safety: Here, God is portrayed as our refuge, a safe haven where we find protection, comfort, and peace. When life feels chaotic or uncertain, we can run to Him for shelter. He shields us from harm and provides security. In summary, Psalm 62:8 encourages us to trust God wholeheartedly, communicate with Him h
Read more

Our fears are kept in a bottle

Image
  Psalms 56:8 CEV‬ You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them. In this psalm, David is facing adversity and persecution. He pleads to God for mercy and protection from his enemies. Despite the challenges he faces, David maintains his trust in God. Here are some key points from Psalm 56:8: 1. God's Care and Compassion: The imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle highlights His deep concern for His people. Tears represent our pain, sorrow, and vulnerability. God not only sees our tears but also treasures them. He doesn't ignore our suffering; instead, He collects and remembers every tear shed. 2. Days of Wandering: David acknowledges that life can be like wandering—a journey filled with uncertainty, trials, and hardships. Yet, even during these wandering days, God is attentive to our struggles. He keeps a record of our experiences, both joyful and painful. 3. Counting Each Tear: The idea that God counts
Read more

Keys to being useful to God

Image
Psalms 57:10-11 CEV‬ Your love reaches higher than the heavens; your loyalty extends beyond the clouds. 1. Know you are loved by God. Worship Him steadfastly: God uses you because He loves you greatly, as David says "For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies" (Psalm 57:10). Worship Him steadfastly with your gifts publicly and privately, in good times and bad (Psalm 57:7-9). 2. Honor God in your life. Desire His glory: Make it your ultimate desire to exalt God and let His glory be over all the earth (Psalm 57:11), just as Jesus taught to pray "hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9). 3. Do what the Father is doing, not your own plans: Like Jesus who could do nothing by Himself but only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19), try to discern God's plans and join in rather than initiating your own.  4. Do good works as evidence of faith, but don't earn salvation by them: Those who have done good will rise to
Read more