The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:6-7)
God loves a cheerful giver. We obviously most often attach that phrase to the giving of money because of the immediate context in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. But take a moment to think about the overall principle. God loves a cheerful giver. As the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), God loves giving, but not if the giver has a begrudging or bitter heart. God loves cheerfulness, but not if it’s rooted in self-absorption and dependent upon getting my own way. God loves a cheerful giver, and the “giving” can take all sorts of practical forms today…
- A helping hand
- A kind word
- An encouraging email
- A note of praise
- An expression of thanks
- A call of concern
- An act of self-sacrifice
- A readiness to yield
- A reassurance of hope
- A humble answer to a sincere question
- A calm response in a stressful situation
- A beginning to a needed conversation
- A stand against injustice
- An invitation to teach
- A zeal for mentoring
- An eagerness to listen
- A sympathizing tear
- A sincere apology
- A word of perspective
- A willingness to share the gospel
Do you want to lead the sort of life that God loves today? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Be a cheerful giver.