Infinitum 30 Day Challenge - Week ThreeSample

Cheerful Giver 

When I think about giving, especially when it comes to money, I often think about it as a duty. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul directly speaks against this idea of giving out of obligation. 

Why is it when we read the words, “God loves a cheerful giver” we can so easily drop the cheerful part? I am reminded time and time again just how vital our heart posture is behind what we do. 

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God talks to Samuel and there He reveals to him that although we may look at the outer appearance He looks “on the heart.” 

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus sits down at a place in the temple where people offer their money. As he sat there, he saw many rich people throw in large amounts of money. As he kept watching, he saw a poor widow come up and give what she had; two small copper coins that were hardly worth anything. Jesus took this opportunity to teach his disciples. He called them over and told them how the woman had given out of her poverty. 

If we look at what she gave, most of us wouldn’t see much to it. Some might even be offended that she offered so little. But, God knew where she came from. He knew how little she had and knew that for her situation what she gave was everything. He knew the poor widow’s heart and accepted her offering.  

• How do you feel when you give?  
• Do you do it out of obligation because you feel like it’s your Christian duty or do you give cheerfully?