Theme of the Week: Stewardship
Bible Verse: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
In 2018, my wife and I took an unforgettable trip to Hawaii.
As we prepared for the trip, we kept getting warned by people to avoid getting pressured into buying into a time-share condo.
“How hard can it be,” I thought. Just say no, right?
Well, we weren’t in Hawaii very long before we encountered our first convincing sales representative. Thankfully, I had my wife there to remind me to say no, otherwise I may have walked out of there as a regretful owner of a timeshare.
Being pressured to spend your money never feels right, and coercively spent money leaves us with a sense of regret. That is the last thing God wants with our money.
In contrast, there are moments when your heart is inspired, or you feel a deep conviction to give, and those moments feel truly special.
Maybe that’s why Paul instructed the Corinthian church to “…decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’”
God desires us to give not reluctantly out of a sense of pressure or legalism, but to give generously and with a cheerful heart. Too often, men give because simply because someone told them to, or it is the “right thing” to do.
But what if there is a better way? What if there is a way to give open-handedly and freely without begrudging it? In a culture where we are encouraged to hoard our money for ourselves, how can we learn to give cheerfully?
Gratitude.
When you truly grasp God’s love for you and the lengths He has gone to for a relationship with you, gratitude can begin to be your motivator rather than a winsome sales pitch or any societal pressure.
Ultimately, obedience to God in our giving should not be because we are fearful of an angry master. We willingly worship God with our finances because He has given us all we need.
We love because He first loved us. We give because He first gave.
Today, you stand as a righteous son of God, completely forgiven and accepted because of God’s generous heart. May His Spirit continue to awaken a thankful heart within you.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending your Son Jesus to save me. I pray that the reality of your Salvation awakens a thankful heart in me. Thank you for forgiving me and declaring me righteous.
Reflection: What’s the reading on your thankfulness meter?
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