We were all created by God out of his overflowing love for us. The Bible tells us that giving is an important aspect of our Christian lives. When we give part of our resources, we help fulfill God’s mandate for us here on Earth. Giving also proves our innate love and gratitude to our Creator and to fellow human beings.
Giving is not only a command but must also entail a cheerful attitude from the giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reads: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
The Great Commandment impels us to love God above all else with all our hearts, minds, and souls and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The principles of giving out of love and having a willing heart are eternal truths that guide God’s kingdom on Earth and beyond.
Contents
Reasons Why God Loves A Cheerful Giver
A Cheerful Giver Loves God And Other People
The Great Commandment impels us to love God above all and, secondly, our neighbor as ourselves. God’s grace abounds, especially when you see the number 555, and God blesses us through cheerful giving. Matthew 22:37–39 reads: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.”
Cheerful giving is a clear manifestation and evidence of our love for God and for our neighbor. When we praise God and give cheerfully, we demonstrate our love of his only Son more than our money. Matthew 6:21 reads, “‘Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Giving is also a clear and apparent sign of our love for others.”
God gave us eternal life[1]. Our gifts and blessings should not be hoarded and kept away from others. We have been given much, so we can give much away. 1 John 3:17 says: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” God will bless those who cheerfully share their gifts and resources.
A Cheerful Giver Helps The Church
Jesus Christ established the church primarily to share the gospel. He blessed and asked the apostles to spread his message and propagate Christianity after his ascension.
The Great Commission reads: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul often exhorted God’s people to be cheerful givers. When we give to the church, we help it achieve its goals. Church funds help defray the costs of the church, like salaries of pastors and workers, overheads, utilities, missionary programs, the purchase of Bibles, and other expenses.
These are needed costs to finance the evangelism and discipleship efforts of the church people and machinery in your locality and worldwide. The church distributes money, food, and other essentials to people in need.
What Does The Bible Mean By Cheerful And Giving?
Cheerful Giving Reveals The Heart
The Story of the Widow’s Offering (Mark 12) in the Bible clearly reveals the most important aspect of giving—the matter of the heart. Jesus saw the rich putting in their large amounts, but a poor widow was only able to give two small copper coins worth a couple of cents in the offering box.
Mark 12:43–44 reads: “Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.'”
Jesus recognized that the widow’s gift, though small in amount, was great in faith and grace. She gave a greater proportion of her income than the rich Pharisees, and her gift was considered honorable to God.
Cheerful Giving Is Rooted In Love
Our giving should be rooted in our love of God and of other people, not reluctantly or under compulsion. We are giving part of our resources because we sincerely believe giving is every Christian’s primary responsibility. Most importantly, we give because we honor God as our Creator and possess the true character of helping others in need.
1 Corinthians 13:3 says, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not to love, I gain nothing.” Paul’s words indicate that selfishness has no place in the kingdom of God. If love is not our primary reason and motivation for giving, it is an empty gift.
How To Be A Cheerful Giver
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
— 2 Corinthians 9:6
Being a cheerful giver involves more than simply parting with our possessions; it is a reflection of our relationship with God and our commitment to love and serve others. Through prayer, studying the Bible, and embracing a joyful and generous attitude, we can experience the abundant blessings that come from aligning our lives with God’s heart. As believers, let us strive to be cheerful givers and live out the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in our daily lives.
Pray About Giving
When we experience issues or struggle with giving, we should pray to God and ask him to cleanse our hearts. When it comes to giving, it is essential to seek guidance from above to align ourselves with his will. Praying to God and asking for his divine intervention can help cleanse our hearts from any selfishness or reluctance. Giving is a holy attitude that emanates from God’s heart and reflects his nature of love, and selfishness comes from the devil.
Remember the verse from the Bible, “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” (2 Corinthians 9:7)? When we approach giving with a sincere and joyful heart, we invite blessings from heaven into our lives.
Read And Study The Bible
The Bible is a rich source of wisdom and inspiration for believers. In the many passages of the Holy Bible, the love of God and the importance of extending that love to others are the central themes. When we read the Scriptures, we are reminded of the joy and beauty of honoring God and helping other people in need. We read about the blessedness of being poor in spirit or having just enough and the folly of being rich without God.
By immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, we are reminded of the joy and beauty of honoring God through our acts of generosity. We discover stories of individuals like Paul, who exemplified a selfless spirit, encouraging others to give with gladness.
One such verse that emphasizes this is found in Acts 20:35, where Paul says, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Understanding God’s perspective on giving provides us with a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. It shifts our focus from a materialistic mindset and encourages us to invest in what truly matters—eternal treasures rather than temporary wealth. As Christians, we are called to embrace the principle of generosity, following the example of Christ himself, who gave his life for the salvation of humanity.
Embrace And Practice Joyful Giving
When we give cheerfully, we experience the joy that comes from selfless acts of kindness. It is not merely about money or material possessions but about enriching the lives of others. Our giving can extend beyond financial contributions to include sharing our time, talents, and resources to serve those in need. As we embrace a generous mindset, we become conduits of God’s love and blessings, spreading his goodness in a broken world.
The idea of being a cheerful giver is not supposed to be a burden or an obligation; instead, it is an opportunity to express our gratitude and love for God. It is a chance to participate in his redemptive work and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Giving generously aligns us with God’s heart and allows us to be his hands and feet in this world.
Overcome Worldly Obstacles
Maintaining a generous spirit can be challenging in a world of consumerism and self-centeredness. The love of money and the pursuit of personal gain often overshadow the call to give. However, as believers, we are called to overcome these obstacles and live according to a different standard. We are encouraged to hate the love of money and imagine a world where everyone serves one another with love.
To stay faithful in our giving, it is crucial to surround ourselves with a community of like-minded believers who understand the value of generosity. We can support and encourage one another, reminding ourselves of the eternal reward that awaits those who faithfully steward their resources for God’s kingdom.
10 Bible Verses About God Loving A Cheerful Giver
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your lap. With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
— Luke 6:38
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
— 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Every good gift and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
— James 1:17
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
— 1 Timothy 6:17
In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, as he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
— Acts 20:35
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
— 1 Timothy 5:8
I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
— Romans 12:1
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
— Matthew 6:33
They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, and to be ready to share.
— 1 Timothy 6:18
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
— 2 Corinthians 9:10
Summary
Giving is the primary duty and responsibility of every living Christian. Selfishness is the work of the enemy, and greed can lead to our downfall. God loves a cheerful giver. By giving generously and cheerfully, we demonstrate our true faith in God and our identity in Christ.
We are called to be responsible stewards of the money and possessions that God has given us. Whether we have two mites or a million dollars, we are commanded to be cheerful givers. Remember that the “earth is the Lord and everything in it.” In God’s sight, we actually don’t own anything—money, possessions, or even our very lives. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.