“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God’s giving, or his gracious provision toward us, is never obligated but is always freely given. He gives because He is a giver: no one forces Him to give; and no one deserves His giving.
God’s generosity doesn’t stop at providing the daily necessities of life – physical life, that is. His generosity extends beyond our earthly life.
What drives God to be generous? Abundance? A desire to be perceived as generous?
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2Cor 9:7). God loves a cheerful giver…Let me wonder why?
“And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches” (2Corinthians 8:1).
I believe we have here a portrait of a bunch of cheerful givers.
So the question is, “What made them cheerful givers?” Let’s see…
“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2Corinthians 8:2). Paul mentions a severe trial and extreme poverty. Doing it tough and yet overflowing with joy…Are we missing something these days?
God had given grace to the Macedonian churches, hence God’s grace had made them cheerful givers. I suspect that the reason why God loves a cheerful giver is that He Himself is a cheerful giver.
God’s generosity is an extension of His will: He gives because He wants to give. He is not required to give; He cannot be forced to give; and He doesn’t owe anything to anybody.
In His “economy”, generosity has a reward – overflowing joy plus more.
Be a cheerful giver – just like your heavenly Father!