“Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so
that in all things at all times, having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.”
(II Corinthians 9:7-8)
Thoughts… Paul has been teaching the Corinthian Christians for two whole chapters now about the ministry of giving, and he gives some pretty clear guideline as to how God desires us to give.
First, you are to give with authenticity. No one should tell you how to give or how much to give—not even the preacher. “You are to decide” about giving, Paul says. You need to dig way down deep and come to grips about the ministry of giving, until it is a value that drives your stewardship.
Second, you are to give out of heartfelt desire. Give because you really love God and want to demonstrate your love with a tangible expression of your devotion to him. Don’t do it because it will make you feel better, ease your guilt or make you look good.
Don’t do it just because you feel pressured to do it, not like the boy who mis-memorized the verse, “Each should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not repulsively or under convulsions.” Instead, you are to give because it’s just what you ought to do. Give because it is the nature of love. Give because it is consistent with Christian character. Give from a convinced heart. If your gift doesn’t send the message of genuine desire, it won’t count for love.
Third, you are to give with delight. Why? “For God loves a cheerful giver.” A truly authentic and heartfelt giver will enjoy giving the gift. They don’t think of giving as a loss or a requirement or a burden, rather they think of the joy it brings and the love it communicates to the recipient. That’s what we’re told in Hebrews 12:2 about Jesus, our example of joyful generosity, “For the joy set before him, endured” the ultimate act of giving: the cross.
Fourth, you are to give expectantly. Paul teaches that when you give in a way that is pleasing to the Lord—authentically, from the heart, and joyfully—God will make sure that you will always have plenty to give away: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” As someone has wisely pointed out, “Give according to your income, lest God make your income according to your giving.”
What a privilege it is to give back to God. When we get giving right, God makes sure we ourselves will abound in every good work.
Prayer… Lord, you are the Supreme Giver. You gave your best, you gave your all, you gave yourself. From the depth of my heart, I thank you. It is now my honor and joy to give back to you. May the sacrifice of my offerings be acceptable worship pleasing to you.
One More Thing… “Since much wealth too often proves a snare and an encumbrance in the Christian’s race, let him lighten the weight by ‘dispersing abroad and giving to the poor’, whereby he will both soften the pilgrimage of his fellow travelers, and speed his own way the faster.” —Augustus Toplady
Why do we hear so often about a tithe or a tenth of our income? I know it is spoken of in the Old Testament. How does this fit into our strategic stewardship?
Tithing is certainly the standard for giving in the Old Testament, and it seems not only to be specifically reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 23:23 (cf. Luke 11:42),but also by the writer of Hebrews in chapter 7. The NT doesn’t push 10% or a tithe in a legalistically, but taken in light of the new covenant of grace, which always motivates us to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of the old covenant law, i.e., turn the other check, go the second mile, forgive 70 times 7, etc., then it is fair to expect that the Christ follower ought to at least meet, and more likely, exceed the OT benchmark of the tithe. Grace demands that we act, in whatever we do, including our giving, out of the overflow of a loving heart.