2 Corinthians 9:7

“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.”

I never truly understood the concept of cheerful giving until I had children. I still remember the first Christmas my son was old enough to really be excited. We had bought a Playmobile set, complete with a ship, sailors, an island, and a treasure chest. I knew he would be excited. That’s why, even though it took HOURS to figure out how to put all eight trillion of those tiny pieces together, using directions with no words, I still didn’t mind (too much). Whenever I got frustrated I imagined how happy my son would be when he came downstairs and saw his present, and I would feel excited again. It was fun to give!

That is how God wants us to feel about giving to Him. He doesn’t want us to give out of compulsion, guilt, or any other impure reason. God wants us to give with cheerful hearts – excited about what He will be able to do with our gift. He wants us to reach in our pockets, imagining the lives that will be changed with what we offer Him. He wants us to share in His enthusiasm for reaching out to others.

2 Corinthians 9:7 reiterates God’s desire for a “cheerful giver.” The literal translation of the verse reads that God loves a “hilarious” giver. Hilarious implies that God wants a giver filled with exuberant, jovial glee – a giver with an enthusiastic heart.

Take a moment and read 2 Corinthians 9 in its entirety (it is a short chapter). List the benefits that Paul gave for generous giving.