When we talk about giving, it is easy to think that the subject is only about money. But in 2 Corinthians 9, Paul is dealing with something much deeper—the condition of our hearts toward God. The Corinthians had promised to help believers who were in need. Paul wanted them to fulfill their commitment, but he did not want their giving to come from pressure, guilt, or obligation. God does not simply want something from our hands. He wants our hearts.
SCRIPTURE
“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
OBSERVATION
When we serve God, we give. Giving has already
become a natural part of our Christian life and ministry. We give
our tithes and offerings, we serve others, we share the Gospel,
we teach and disciple people, and we give our time, effort, talents,
and resources for the work of God.
In other words, giving is not limited to
money. Every time we serve, sacrifice, help, encourage, teach, or make
ourselves available to others, we are giving something that God has entrusted
to us.
But there is an important question we need to ask:
“What is the heart and motivation behind our giving?”
It is possible to give with our hands while our
hearts are not truly in it. We can serve because we feel obligated. We can give
because we are pressured. We can minister because we want recognition. We can
even do good things while secretly expecting something in return.
That is why 2 Corinthians 9:7 brings our
attention not only to what we give, but also to how we give:
4 Attitudes of a Giver
1. GIVE INTENTIONALLY
2. GIVE WILLINGLY
3. GIVE WITHOUT PRESSURE
4. GIVE CHEERFULLY
APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 9:7 teaches us 4
important attitudes:
1. GIVE INTENTIONALLY
“Decided in your heart” - Plan it.
Pray about it.
Ibig sabihin, bago tayo
magbigay, hindi lang basta kung ano ang maisipan natin at that moment. We
intentionally think about it, pray about it, and decide in our hearts what we
want to give to God.
2. GIVE WILLINGLY
“Not reluctantly” - Give without
resentment.
Ibig sabihin, when we give or
serve, hindi tayo nagbibigay na napipilitan, nagrereklamo, o
nanghihinayang pagkatapos. Our giving should come from a willing heart.
3. GIVE WITHOUT PRESSURE
“Not under compulsion” - Give from
grace, not guilt.
Huwag magbigay dahil napipilitan o
pine-pressure, magbigay tayo dahil naunawaan natin ang grace ng Diyos, hindi
dahil guilty tayo.”
Our attitude should be:
“I give because I have experienced
God's grace. God has been generous to me, so I also want to be generous to
others.”
4. GIVE CHEERFULLY
“God loves a cheerful giver.”- Give
with gratitude and joy.
“Magbigay nang may pasasalamat at
kagalakan, dahil ang giving ay response natin sa goodness at grace ng Diyos.”
God is interested not only in the gift, but also
in the heart of the giver.
So before asking:
“What am I giving to God?”
we should also ask:
“Why am I giving it?”
“What is happening in my heart when I give:
-
tithes and
offering
-
Disciple others
-
Teach others (bible study or instruments)
-
Cook food the church/ cleaning
-
Serve/loving other people
-
Share the gospel
-
Doing our assigned ministry
-
And many more in and outside of the church.
Giving begins in the heart
before it reaches the hand.
True Christian giving flows from a heart that has
experienced God's grace. We give because God first gave to us. We
serve because Christ first served us. We love because He first loved
us.
PRAYER
Heavenly
Father, thank You for Your grace and for everything You have given us.
Give us the heart of a giver—a heart that gives intentionally, willingly,
freely, and cheerfully. Remove guilt, pressure, resentment, and selfishness
from our hearts, and fill us with gratitude, generosity, and joy. May
everything we give and everything we do bless others and bring glory to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
-----------------------------------
Pas Paula - JCRC Cambodia
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