2 Corinthians 9:7 - Insights on Cheerful Giving.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each of you should
give what you have decided in your heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver.
INTRODUCTION
To discover the joy of giving, imagine
what it would be like next Christmas if no one in
your family gave you anything. Ditto for your
birthday.
These examples just go to show how
valuable giving really is. Imagine how foolish you
would feel for doing any of the above. In a way,
this is what the Corinthians were guilty of. They
had made a commitment to give an offering, but
when it came time to give, they changed their
minds. This presented Paul with an opportunity to
talk about giving and to hold the Corinthians
accountable.
It is so easy for us to promise to give
to the church or other Christian causes. But
when it comes time to write out the check, our
enthusiasm can quickly dwindle.
To avoid such situations, there are four
steps you can take to maintain your enthusiasm
when you give. First, realize that how you give
matters more than how much you give. An attitude of
cheerful giving is more important than the amount
given. Second, budget for giving. Control your
spending habits so that after you give to God, you
will have enough left over to meet all of your
financial obligations. That way you will not have to
go back on your word in order to pay your
bills. Third, realize that material wealth will not
bring eternal satisfaction. Wealth can, however,
be used to glorify God and lay up treasures in
heaven, both of which will bring you eternal
satisfaction. Fourth, give as a service to Christ, not as
a way of obligating others to give back to you
(otherwise it's not giving at all). If you promise to
give, do it. If you can give anything at all, give
it. The amount isn't the issue. The motivation
and attitude is. [The One Year Through the Bible
Devotional by Dave Veerman]
COMMENTARY
Larry Stewart knew something about
giving. But for twenty-five years, nobody knew his
name. He was only known as Kansas City's Secret
Santa. Stewart would simply walk up to a stranger,
put $100 in their hand, smile, and say, "This is
for you."
Over the course of his life, Stewart gave
away well over $1 million. He often didn't have a
plan for how to pass out his money. He'd go to a
thrift store, the bus station, a Laundromat, or a
fast-food restaurant and look for somebody in need.
Then he'd go over, give some money (sometimes
$1,000 at a time), and say, "God bless you." Those
weren't empty words to Stewart. He knew God had
blessed him, and he wanted to bless others. During a
2006 interview with USA Today, Stewart said
before he began giving away his millions, "Part of
my daily prayer was, 'Lord, lift me up and let
me be a better witness to you and for you and
somehow reach more people.' I had no idea this is
what he had in mind." Stewart died in 2007, but
he inspired numerous others to give generously
without expecting anything in return.
Part of being a follower of Jesus is
giving. God has given us so much - forgiveness
through his Son, a beautiful planet, family,
friends, food, clothes (really every gift is from
God). We reflect God's giving nature when we give
to others. Plus, when we freely give, it shows
we recognize God as Lord over everything we
have.
Sometimes it's not easy to give. When we
receive our allowance or a big check from Grandma,
we might have something special we want to
purchase for ourselves. But we should always give to
God first. The Old Testament talks about God's
people giving a tithe, or 10 percent of what they
had, to God. But more than what we give, God
cares about how we give. Second Corinthians 9:7
says, "Each of you should give what you have
decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver."
Think about what you can give to God. You
may not have a lot of money, but you can give
your time or old toys and clothes to people in
need. And as you give, make sure you do it
cheerfully - that's the secret to giving. [Case For
Christ For Kids by Les Strobel]
ILLUSTRATION
I feel like starting with the words the
nurse says as she approaches your bed with one
hand behind her back: "This won't take long, but
it may sting a little."
Are you aware of what waiters and
waitresses say about the Christians they serve? Do you
have any idea how much they dread waiting on our
tables in restaurants after church on Sundays? Or
any other day when we go in groups with big
Bibles under our arms? We gobble up the chow,
asking for this favor and that, seldom pausing long
enough to smile or say, "Thank you." That's bad
enough, but then we leave a tip that is more of an
insult than a generous expression of gratitude.
Just last week a waiter informed me that
the place where he works has the toughest time
getting a full crew to wait tables on Sunday. "We'd
all rather work late Friday and Saturday nights
week after week than work Sunday afternoons," he
said.
When I asked why, he told me.
"Because Christians are usually loud,
they often lack good table manners, and they are
stingy with the tips."
The waiter who spoke to me is a
Christian. He's on our side. And he's embarrassed. Says
he has a tough time talking to the crew about
Christ after the place closes at night. They give
him this cynical "You gotta be kidding!"
response that comes after six or eight of Christ's
followers walk away, leaving a tract and a dollar
bill. Or maybe just a tract. Sometimes, neither.
If you're among the thoughtful, the
gracious, the kind who leave a full 15 percent or
more, keep it up. But if you're the type who falls
into the tightfisted and less than thoughtful
category, how about thinking of your witness as
something more than a Bible in your pocket and words
out of your mouth? Sometimes it's what comes out
of your pocket after something has gone into
your mouth . . . and I'm not referring to a
tract. Listen: "It is possible to give away and
become richer! It is also possible to hold on too
tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man
shall be rich! By watering others, he waters
himself" (Prov. 11:24"25, TLB).
C'mon, Christian, loosen up. If you can
afford to eat out, you can also handle a healthy
tip. Maybe all you needed was a shot in the arm.
There's no doubt about it. Actions often
speak much louder than words. What are your
actions saying? [Chuck Swindoll www.insight.org.]
CLOSING THOUGHT
One of my favorite Bible stories about
cheerful giving is the story of the widow who put two
mites into the Temple treasury. The cash value of
her offering was extremely small, yet Jesus
"called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath
cast more in, than all they which have cast
[large amounts] into the treasury. For all they did
cast in of their abundance; but she of her want
did cast in all that she had, even all her
living" (Mark 12:43, 44).
Her offering was recognized in heaven
because her heart was in it. She was a cheerful
giver. That is what God wants from each of us. He
wants us to give from our hearts. More important
than the amount is the spirit in which we give
our offerings.
The very purpose of giving is to make us
more like God the Father and Jesus the Son, who
gave of themselves that we might be blessed both
here and hereafter. God desires me to be a
cheerful giver. [Walking With Jesus By Knight]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
2 Corinthians 9:6-8: Some Principles on
Cheerful Giving.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100217-1541.html
2 Corinthians 9:8: Grace and Giving.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100907-1511.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
