God Loves a Cheerful Giver

 The winter months are a popular time to clean out closets and cabinets, and give what we don’t use to someone who needs it. This isn’t always as easy to do as it sounds.

Giving away our possessions requires letting go of our emotional attachment to them. It requires looking away from ourselves, opening our eyes to the needs of others, and transforming our attitudes from greed to generosity. We may change our perspective from wanting to hold onto something, just to have it, to seeing it as a precious gift to offer to someone else. If we’re absorbed with every little thing we have, then we won’t see the people around us, and we won’t be able to give freely to them.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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 9:6-7

 Being generous implies giving gladly and freely, without hesitation, complaining, or resentment. When we’re generous, we offer before we’re asked; we don’t judge whether or not the recipient ‘deserves’ it; and we disregard how often and how much we’ve already given. We may give quietly or anonymously, and give more than what’s expected.

The above verse from Corinthians goes on to point out that, as we give to others, God will bless us with all that we need and allow us to do even more good:

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’”  -- 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

When we unclench the fists and hearts we have wrapped around our stuff, we make room for God in that space. We let Him transform our hearts to look with love at our neighbors. We feel moved to ‘reach out with joy’ -- to give not only our material possessions, but our time and energy as well. (See my blog post from last week, ‘Reaching Out With Joy.’)

Let’s remember that, whenever and however we’re open-handed and open-hearted, we imitate Christ. We bring a little bit of heaven to Earth.

“Lord, make my heart like Yours. Make me a cheerful giver.”

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