Giving With Gladness
God has given so much to us. In like manner He expects us to
give with gladness. God has given us direct and certain instruction concerning
acceptable giving. He taught concerning both the manner and the amount to be
given. God is a giver and He expects His children to give. "For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) The cheerful
giver opens his life to many blessings from God. "Give,
and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you
use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38) Let us learn to give with gladness!
The Christian that gives with gladness
sows bountifully. Paul wrote, "But this I say: He who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6) Our giving must be a matter of
generosity and not grudging obligation. (2 Corinthians 9:5) The result of bountiful giving is the windows
of heaven being opened and an abundance of blessings being poured out; even so
many the cheerful givers could not receive them all. (Malachi 3:8-10)
The Christian that gives with gladness
plans or purposes his giving. Scriptural giving does not happen by
accident. It is accomplished by thought and design. "So let each one give
as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) Those that make no plans in their
giving offer God only the scraps. Please remember that God expects more than
our scraps in our giving and He deserves more than our scraps! Let us
prayerfully consider our blessings and give accordingly to how God has blessed
us.
The
Christian that gives with gladness truly has a part in good works. Christians give
generously and many good works are accomplished. "And God is able to make
all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may have an abundance for every good
work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) Many doors are now open for benevolence and
evangelism. Liberal, cheerful giving
makes it possible to do an abundance of good works for the glory of God.
The Christian that gives with gladness
will increase in righteousness. There is no greater need than the need
for righteousness in the lives of God's people. God increases the fruits of
righteousness in the life of the cheerful giver. "As it is written: He has dispersed
abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. Now may
He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for
food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of
your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:9-10) In cheerful giving Christians
come to understand God’s righteousness and to see righteousness developed in
their lives and the lives of others.
The Christian that gives with gladness is
a blessing to many others. Christians should stand ready to bless
saints and all men. "For the administration of this service not only
supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many
thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify
God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your
liberal sharing with them and all men." (2 Corinthians 9:12-13) Cheerful
giving will lead to God receiving glory. God is glorified when the poor are
helped. This glory comes from all that are assisted or that know of the things
that are being done. God blesses us with that which will supply the needs of
our own family and also bless others through benevolence and evangelism. God
will multiply the seed sown. You give cheerfully and God will help you do even
more.
The Christian that gives with gladness is
motivated by God's indescribable gift. The precious gift of Jesus for
our salvation motivates our giving. "Knowing that you were not redeemed
with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct
received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19) God's
wonderful gift stirs our heart to sincerity and cheerfulness in our giving and
our service to others. God has blessed us by giving His Son. Let us give with
gladness likewise.
Nothing blesses
the life of a Christian more than giving with gladness. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew
6:19-21) The grace of God and His great
gift to us demands our cheerful and liberal giving. Does your giving please
God? It is a sobering truth to realize that one day, on that great Judgment
Day, our money or possessions, how we gained those possessions and how we used
them will largely determine where we will be in eternity. Are you a Christian
that gives with gladness?
Will you accept
God's wonderful good news that Jesus died for your sins? Will you be baptized
into Christ to put on Christ so that your sins can be forgiven by His blood?
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27)
Believers contact Christ's saving blood by being baptized into His death. Those
that have put on Christ must give with gladness.
By Charles Box,