For those of us who have spent years in church and ministry circles, leaders invariably talk about money.
Some leaders dread the topic. Others seem to revel in it. For organizations that run largely on donation models, as most ministries and churches do, discussions with congregations and potential givers must happen.
Leaders who dread the topic do so for a simple reason: it can be off-putting. People feel a certain affinity for their money. They worked for it. There’s stuff they want or need to spend it on. They don’t like to part with it. And ministries can too easily communicate giving as a rule or obligation.
This is tragic for a couple of reasons. First, the Kingdom of God infuses and strengthens every part of life, like the yeast in the dough from one of Jesus’ famous parables in Matthew 13.
The Bible talks a great deal about wealth because our possessions are very personal. Therefore, we must speak on the topic.
Second, while the Bible gives instructions about giving in a command-like context, the Scripture also reveals God’s heart.
He desires for us to be generous people but not out of legalistic obligation. The same Scripture that commands us to give also decries doing so out of an obligatory attitude.
God wants us to be cheerful givers. In fact, the Apostle Paul writes that God loves a cheerful giver.
But does he really? Does he love those who give cheerfully?
2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “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.”
In context, Paul is writing to the church at Corinth in this second letter to them to remind the faith family of a commitment they made to give to another fellowship in need. However, he didn’t want his reminder to imply a compulsion, that he was trying to force them against their will. On the contrary.
Along with this statement in chapter 9, Paul gives an illustration about sowing and reaping. When we give unto the Kingdom, we will receive spiritual blessings as well.
When we give, we give material things. How does our giving of material things become spiritual? When we do it with spiritual motivation.
The material itself isn’t holy. Our motivations and hearts can be when aligned with Christ. Therefore, the attitude of the heart is just as important, if not more so, to God when we give our money or wealth.
God doesn’t need our stuff. He creates material things out of nothing. Through giving of our wealth and personal possessions, God is training us to be generous like he is. We invest in the eternal from our hearts with our material goods.
The Father provides us an opportunity to take temporary things like money (things that will invariably pass away) to invest in what is eternal (what we can never lose). What a blessing!
We must give, then, with that truth in mind, or else we are doing it in an evil, transactional way with others. Or it is a dead religion. The letter of the Law kills (2 Corinthians 3:6), and we don’t want that.
God loves a cheerful giver because we’re participating in his eternal mission, working with him for the eternal good of others. It literally gives him abundant joy.
Other scriptures reinforce the concept that God loves a cheerful giver.
Simply looking at one of the most popular passages in the Bible, John 3:16 says the Father loved the world so abundantly he gave generously, the best he had, his only Son. He gave with a purpose, for the good of any who would believe. God is an overwhelming giver. So should we be.
Proverbs 11:25 declares, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” People are eternal, made in the image of God. When we provide relief out of Kingdom generosity, we are also blessed, in turn, the sowing and reaping Paul spoke of earlier.
In Acts 20:35, Paul attributes a similar idea to Jesus. “It is more blessed to give than receive.” If we understand that to give so others can live is God’s love, then we also share in his abundant joy when we do.
Ephesians 1:5 points out that the Father adopted us as his sons and daughters according to his great pleasure.
It makes God happy to give, and when we give as he does, in relationship with him, it draws us into greater intimacy and understanding of the King and Kingdom.
First, cheerful giving demonstrates trust and obedience to God. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:14), once again highlighting the importance of the attitude of our hearts. We should obey out of love, not simply duty.
Moreover, cheerful giving reflects a heart aligned with God's character. God is a generous and loving God, and when His followers imitate His nature through cheerful giving, it strengthens their bond with Him.
As Jesus teaches in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
By practicing generosity, believers align themselves with God's heart, participating in His work of blessing and transformation in the world.
Further, cheerful giving fosters a spirit of thankfulness and contentment. When we recognize and experience the blessing inherent in a generous life, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness.
We better comprehend that we have access to infinite resources in the Kingdom and can’t out-give God. The resulting gratitude acknowledges God’s goodness, fosters contentment, and allows believers to focus on the eternal rather than the temporary (2 Corinthians 9:11).
Finally, cheerful giving empowers us to participate in God’s Kingdom work. We aren’t born again to sit on our couches and binge-watch Netflix.
No, we have the New Creation in our hearts to be active participants in the Father’s mission of love, justice, and reconciliation through generously giving our resources, time, and talents. We become channels of God’s love, bringing transformation to others.
One primary obstacle to cheerful giving is the attachment to our possessions. We fight for our stuff, especially in a consumer-driven society.
We can fall victim to greed or selfishness, and placing too much value on our possessions makes it challenging to let go and give generously. We must change our mindset that our provision comes from a generous, loving God who has promised to care for us.
A second obstacle to cheerful giving is the misconception that our resources are insufficient to make a significant impact. We feel our contributions are too small to make a difference, and as a result, refrain from giving at all, or at least cheerfully.
As with the fishes and loaves in the gospel (Matthew 14:17-19), God can use and multiply even the smallest amount, and either way, he is looking at the heart, not the size of the gift.
Fear and uncertainty can also cripple cheerful giving. We can be afraid of financial instability or an unknown future and therefore withhold resources and hesitate to give cheerfully. The Bible reminds us of God’s faithfulness and promises to provide for us when we give to help others.
Lastly, a lack of understanding about the impact of cheerful giving can hinder us from embracing it cheerfully.
When we are unaware of the transformative power of generosity and the joy that comes from giving, we may overlook opportunities to give cheerfully. This must be the focus of our study and a ministry’s biblical teaching.
As already discussed, being a cheerful giver brings us closer to Christ, aligns us with his heart of love, brings us contentment and joy, blesses others, and provides us with more understanding of the Kingdom as we participate in the redemptive work of the King.
Developing the habit of being a cheerful giver requires intentional effort and a shift in mindset.
Here are eight practical and personal ways to cultivate the spirit of cheerful giving:
1. Cultivate gratitude. Developing a grateful heart for all that God has done and given us is crucial in fostering a cheerful, giving mindset.
Take time each day to reflect on the blessings in your life and express gratitude to God. In view of God’s generosity to us, we will do the same with others.
2. Set aside a giving budget. Create a budget that specifically allocates a portion of your income for giving.
By intentionally planning and setting aside funds for charitable purposes, you empower yourself to give cheerfully without feeling as financially burdened or unprepared.
3. Start small. Remember, cheerful giving is about the attitude of the heart. Begin by giving small, intentionally, and with joy and expectation.
Start with small acts such as donating to a local charity or volunteering your time to help someone in need. As you experience the resulting joy, your willingness to give cheerfully will grow.
4. Educate yourself. Learn about the needs and causes that resonate with your heart. Learn about organizations and initiatives that you are passionate about.
Giving with the knowledge about real needs combined with your passion will move you away from obligation and teach you more about how to give cheerfully in every situation.
5. Practice sacrificial giving. Challenge yourself to give sacrificially. God gave his Son as a sacrifice, so God will ask us to let go of certain possessions in a sacrificial way.
This teaches selfless love, but just like Jesus rose from the dead, the reward will be greater than the sacrifice.
6. Seek accountability and community. We learn best in community, so surround yourself with like-minded people who live the value of cheerful giving.
Cheerful giving becomes contagious in a Kingdom culture, so find one and spend time being generous in group activities. It will inspire and motivate you.
7. Reflect on the impact. Sometimes we can get the blessings and miss them. Like the concept of gratitude above, be intentional about noticing and being grateful for the transformation you see in your life and the lives of others you have touched. This reinforces your joy and the purpose behind it, encouraging you to continue.
8. Pray for a generous heart. Generosity is a work of the Spirit, not of human strength. We are selfish and weak in ourselves. But God has promised grace and power to those that humble themselves and pray for wisdom and strength from heaven.
Pray for a heart of generosity and a cheerful spirit. Don’t be surprised when you get a great deal of opportunities to use that spirit, though!
God loves cheerful givers, and he wants to help us to develop our hearts in this way more than we do. Let us trust him and the good pleasure of his generous will to lead and build us in this blessing.
Peace.
For further reading:
Does the Bible Say 'You Can't Outgive God'?
Why Are We Called to Be Cheerful Givers?
What Does the Bible Say about Giving?
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