October 9, 2022 GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever.’ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”
Man, apart from God, is a taker; his emphasis is on getting. In contrast, the one that knows God and who is walking in His ways, is a giver. God demonstrated His giving nature when He gave His Son that we might be redeemed. We normally think of money when the subject of giving comes up; blessing someone in need financially is certainly a great way to give, however, there are many other ways to give. We can give our time; we can give a listening ear; we can help someone in need; we can open the door for a stranger; pray for someone; speak an encouraging word-and etc. God is not interested in us giving under compulsion or because we think that we are suppose too give in order to be a ‘good Christian.’ When we come know God as our Father and we experience His love, and when we know our true identity as His sons and daughters, we become givers at heart; being a giver is in keeping with the heart of God. Having a spirit of giving is what it is all about. Once we discover the joy of giving and discover that it is our new nature to be givers, we look for ways to give. There are some awesome promises in the passage above. One is that when we are a cheerful giver, we will have ‘all sufficiency in all things,’ AND God will supply us with seeds to sow, AND He will multiply our seeds for sowing! Giving is a part of the righteousness of God being expressed in and through us; and He says that the harvest of our righteousness will be increased; we will be ‘enriched in everything for all liberality.’ After seeing all the promises and benefits of being a cheerful giver, it makes you wonder why anyone would not want to be a giver. Again, giving is not to be something we do occasionally; God desires that we have a spirit of giving; if we live out of our new identity, our new nature that He has given us, we will have a spirit of giving, and we will never run out of seeds to sow.
Proverbs 11:24-25 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed