Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Many in the modern Church think that they give freely and cheerfully because they give much money to their church, and sacrifice much time there. It is all too easy for people to think they give freely and cheerfully. However, what makes a person truly give freely and cheerfully is not whether he thinks it righteous and good, but whether his heart rejoices in giving. He finds joy in giving, not because of anything he can get, but because he loves to give to other. Such a person who loves to give to others is a cheerful giver, giving not only without expecting anything in return. He gives because he loves. 2 Corinthians 9:7 explains what a cheerful giver is: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver". He gives not grudgingly, or even of necessity.
A person may give much of what they have, but not be cheerful. You may say, of course. However, one may think it is not as if one is not giving cheerfully, when one is, in fact, not giving cheerfully. As long as one gives, thinking in his heart that he is obliged to do so, or that it is righteous to do so, thinking that is moral to do so, he is not giving cheerfully. For example, a person who thinks that he must give to his church, whether it because he believes in tithing, or because he has earn much and therefore obliged to give, is doing so out of necessity.
A person only gives cheerfully when he gives out of love, not regarding the cost to himself. It manifests in sacrificial giving, done in spirit of faith, rather than in the spirit of law. To give in the spirit of faith is to give all, not just most, or some, but all one can give to others, knowing that one is not obliged to give, but gives because it loves God and loves others. It loves to give because it knows of what God has given to oneself, and knowing it is absolutely undeserved, unmerited, all to compelled to give. It is not merely content with what one has, although it most certainly is. It actively seeks to give because one fully trusts God in all things, and seeks His Kingdom and His righteousness first. It heeds the Words of Jesus when He said:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
So, Church of today, be like the Early Church in Acts which sold their possessions and goods, giving to those in need, without holding anything back:
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need (Acts 2:44-45).
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need (Acts 4:32-35).
Many in the modern Church think that they give freely and cheerfully because they give much money to their church, and sacrifice much time there. It is all too easy for people to think they give freely and cheerfully. However, what makes a person truly give freely and cheerfully is not whether he thinks it righteous and good, but whether his heart rejoices in giving. He finds joy in giving, not because of anything he can get, but because he loves to give to other. Such a person who loves to give to others is a cheerful giver, giving not only without expecting anything in return. He gives because he loves. 2 Corinthians 9:7 explains what a cheerful giver is: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver". He gives not grudgingly, or even of necessity.
A person may give much of what they have, but not be cheerful. You may say, of course. However, one may think it is not as if one is not giving cheerfully, when one is, in fact, not giving cheerfully. As long as one gives, thinking in his heart that he is obliged to do so, or that it is righteous to do so, thinking that is moral to do so, he is not giving cheerfully. For example, a person who thinks that he must give to his church, whether it because he believes in tithing, or because he has earn much and therefore obliged to give, is doing so out of necessity.
A person only gives cheerfully when he gives out of love, not regarding the cost to himself. It manifests in sacrificial giving, done in spirit of faith, rather than in the spirit of law. To give in the spirit of faith is to give all, not just most, or some, but all one can give to others, knowing that one is not obliged to give, but gives because it loves God and loves others. It loves to give because it knows of what God has given to oneself, and knowing it is absolutely undeserved, unmerited, all to compelled to give. It is not merely content with what one has, although it most certainly is. It actively seeks to give because one fully trusts God in all things, and seeks His Kingdom and His righteousness first. It heeds the Words of Jesus when He said:
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34).
So, Church of today, be like the Early Church in Acts which sold their possessions and goods, giving to those in need, without holding anything back:
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need (Acts 2:44-45).
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need (Acts 4:32-35).
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