Secrets of a Cheerful Giver
10. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.
11. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
12. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
13. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.
14. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
15. As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.” 2 Corinthians 8:10-15
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To discover the joy of giving, imagine what it would be like next Christmas if no one in your family gave you anything. Ditto for your birthday.
These examples just go to show how valuable giving really is. Imagine how foolish you would feel for doing any of the above. In a way, this is what the Corinthians were guilty of. They had made a commitment to give an offering, but when it came time to give, they changed their minds. This presented Paul with an opportunity to talk about giving and to hold the Corinthians accountable. As you read, hold yourself accountable for your giving habits.
It is so easy for us to promise to give to the church or other Christian causes. But when it comes time to write out the check, our enthusiasm can quickly dwindle.
To avoid such situations, there are four steps you can take to maintain your enthusiasm when you give. First, realize that how you give matters more than how much you give. An attitude of cheerful giving is more important than the amount given. Second, budget for giving. Control your spending habits so that after you give to God, you will have enough left over to meet all of your financial obligations. That way you will not have to go back on your word in order to pay your bills. Third, realize that material wealth will not bring eternal satisfaction. Wealth can, however, be used to glorify God and lay up treasures in heaven, both of which will bring you eternal satisfaction. Fourth, give as a service to Christ, not as a way of obligating others to give back to you (otherwise it’s not giving at all). If you promise to give, do it. If you can give anything at all, give it. The amount isn’t the issue. The motivation and attitude is.
