Give cheerfully to the Lord

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:7

You must each make up your mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.

Observation: Determine yourself how much you should give and then do it with joy, not out of obligation. This pleases God.

Application: God wants me to do what pleases him because I want to do it and not because I think I must do it. And this goes for giving, too. Giving, whether of myself or of my finances, should be done because I want to share, not because I feel obligated to share. When it begins to feel like an obligation I must step back, pray and re-evaluate my actions. God doesn’t want my ‘help’ if I am going to be cranky about it.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me so many gifts to share. Please guide me in my sharing, though, and keep me giving in joy and not giving out of obligation. Show me the best ways for me to serve so that I will continue to serve in joy and not out of obligation.

I want to work for you and please you. I never want my actions to cause another to stumble… and giving out of obligation might cause me to grumble which might cause another to stumble.

Please keep my motives pure and my heart set on you. And thank you, again, for all you have already given me. And thank you for giving me the desire and ability to share.