WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
MARCH 10, 2022
TOPIC: WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE CHEERFULLY TO GOD
BY T. O. BANSO
“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 New King James Version).
Kenneth Hagin said, “In my fifty years of field ministry while I was holding meetings across the nation, I deliberately chose never to receive an offering when the emotions of the people were highly charged. If there was a lot of excitement and exuberance when it was time for the offering, I would put it off until the mood had settled down.”
He further said, “I believe giving should be a conscious action that is done on purpose in a prayerful, thoughtful attitude. A minister should never resort to heavy persuasion, pleading, or pressure to push people into giving.”
According to him, “Using gimmicks or making unrealistic promises is improper and out of order. A person’s decision to give to God should never be something he will regret later” (The Midas Touch A Balanced Approach to Biblical Prosperity Page 93).
The church and its leadership need proper teaching about giving. The pastor should not struggle with the people, manipulate them, or cajole them to give to God. I believe that if a Christian is well taught and understands that it is a privilege to give to God, and not a burden, he will give to God willingly, voluntarily, generously, and cheerfully, as God expects.
A pastor should teach believers the principle of Christian giving and leave them to give or not to give. He should not make giving look like a levy or tax on people, or gambling. Every Christian should give cheerfully to God.
Why you should give cheerfully to God
1. It demonstrates your love for God. Love always gives. God showed His love to humanity and gave His Son, Jesus, to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16). If God could give His Son because of love, you should also be able to give to Him generously to show your love.
2. It shows you are obeying the Word of God to give and give cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” ( New King James Version).
Acts 20:35 quotes Jesus as saying that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus also said, “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 New King James Version). So giving cheerfully is obeying God’s Word. His Word says none should appear before Him empty-handed (Exodus 34:20).
3. You are manifesting the character of your Father. You should look like your Father. God created you in His own image, and God is the greatest giver. He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Giving is emulating God, your Father.
4. You’re helping to advance the Kingdom of God. For instance, the money that the people give towards the preaching of the gospel and sponsoring of missionaries has an impact on the Kingdom of God. The Bible says some women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager, and Susanna, contributed from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples (Luke 8:2-3). I believe they gave cheerfully.
5. You’re helping to meet the needs in your worship centre (house of God) and in the lives of others, especially fellow believers. Paul, in Romans 15:26, refers to how the believers in Macedonia and Achaia contributed their resources to support the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. They were not forced to give.
Paul also told the Corinthians the implication of their gifts to the needy Christians in Jerusalem. “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, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 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 9:10-13 New King James Version).
6. You are showing your appreciation to God. The psalmist asks what he would render to the LORD for all His benefits toward him (Psalm 116:12). You can praise the Lord with songs, words, and different gestures. But giving is also another way to show appreciation to God. Nobody can pay God back for what He has done for him, but everyone should show gratitude to Him, and this should be done with joy – cheerfully.
7. Your giving is not a waste. Your giving is a seed you are sowing, and the time of harvest will come. “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 New King James Version).
But your giving must come from your heart. You must not be sad when you give or give because you feel you are under pressure from someone to give. As we have read in 2 Corinthians 9:7, you should give as you purpose in your heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; God loves a cheerful giver.
The disciples called the alabaster oil, a very costly fragrant oil, that woman poured on the head of Jesus a waste. They reasoned that it might have been sold for a certain amount and the money given to the poor. But Jesus asked them why they were troubling the woman. He said she had done a good work for Him, which would be remembered and discussed wherever the Good News is preached all over the world (Matthew 26:6-13).
Conclusion: God is the owner of everything you have. He doesn’t lack anything, and your gifts can’t make Him richer. Consider it a privilege to give to Him. You can’t pay Him to do anything for you or pay Him for what He has done for you. Give to God willingly, generously, and cheerfully. Give, not in competition with anyone, but give according to your ability.
Ezra 2:68-69 says, “Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place: According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for the work sixty-one thousand gold drachmas, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly garments” (New King James Version).
God knows what He has given you. So give according to your ability. This was the practice in the early church. Acts 11:29 says, “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” (New King James Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for the privilege to give to You. I shall be a cheerful giver, not a grumbling giver. I shall give willingly, voluntarily, generously, and joyfully. Father, let Your fear be in Your church that nobody will abuse the holy duty of giving to You by manipulating or coercing Your people. Holy Spirit, help each child of God to give willingly, generously, cheerfully, and according to his ability.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
 
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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