“God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7. It is my conviction that, as followers of Christ, we ought to take seriously the lifelong privilege and responsibility of becoming the best possible managers of what we have been given. Our Creator has placed us on this small but significant planet to be caretakers. Our Saviour has invested in us so that, as His church, we might be contributors. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you…and it was not paid with mere gold and silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19. The Holy Spirit has poured Himself into our very inner core so that the love of God might flow in generosity through us into the lives of others. The teachings of Jesus cause us to examine not only our amount of giving but also our motive for giving. Cheerful giving delights the heart of God. Jesus went so far as to say, “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” Luke 6:35.
Christ-followers are to worship the Almighty God while joyfully donating the dollar.
“Cheerful”: the Greek origins of this word are even more dramatic. It could be translated “hilarious” giving. It carries the sense of great joy in giving even to the point of glee, of laughing while we give! While the world tends to worship the “almighty dollar”, Christ-followers are to worship the Almighty God while joyfully donating the dollar.
True story: A chaplain was approached by a Christian man who said: “I have a problem. I have been tithing for some time. It wasn’t too bad when I was making $20,000 a year. I could afford to give the $2,000. But you see, now I am making $500,000 a year and there is just no way I can afford to give away $50,000 a year.” The chaplain reflected on this wealthy man’s dilemma and then said, “Yes, sir, I see that you have a problem. I think we ought to pray about it. Is that alright?” The man agreed, so the chaplain prayed, “Dear Lord, this man has a problem, and I pray that you will help him. Lord, reduce his salary back to the place where he can afford to tithe!”