Why Not Give Joyfully? - April 17

Read 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Reflect

What reason do Christians have to give joyfully?

If I took a poll and asked everyone to name the first crabby, old miser that came to mind, I am curious how many people would name Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The saddest thing to me is that Scrooge wasn’t just stingy with his money. He was stingy with his joy, too. He lived life with a closed fist and a closed heart.

One of my favorite scenes is the exchange Scrooge had with his nephew in his office on Christmas Eve. His nephew came in and cheerily wished him a “Merry Christmas” to which Scrooge replied, “Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.” His nephew quipped, “Come then, uncle. What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.”

They say that “money can’t buy happiness.” The contrast between Scrooge and his nephew really drives that point home. Scrooge pinched his pennies so that he could go home to a cold and empty house. While his nephew opened his home to friends and family. He may not have had much material wealth to share but whatever he had he shared with joy and good cheer.

In today’s verse, Paul explained that while God wants us to give, he doesn’t dictate giving requirements. He doesn’t want our giving to be compulsory or driven by a sense of duty and obligation. He doesn’t want us to give because we have to. He wants us to give because we want to. In fact, Paul said, God loves it when we give cheerfully instead of begrudgingly.

But what is the basis for this cheerful giving? Why do some people live joyful, generous lives while others miserably hoard their resources? Simply put, some people understand what Jesus has done for them and respond with cheerful giving, and others don’t.

Gotquestions.org says, “We can learn to be a cheerful giver by studying the greatest giver this world has ever known: Jesus Christ. Leaving behind the riches and glory of His heavenly kingdom, He came to Earth and willingly gave His life so that we could keep ours. As God predestined His children to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29), there can be no better way to emulate Jesus Christ than by giving selflessly the way He did. Our Savior Himself told us, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35). Quite simply, then, our greatest motivation for cheerful and generous giving should be that it pleases the Lord and reflects His gift of salvation to us...Cheerful giving, therefore, should be a way of life for the Christian who understands the grace of God.”

If you are familiar with the Christmas Carol story, you know that by the end of the book, Ebenezer Scrooge was a changed man. The reason for the change? He realized that he was given an opportunity to change before it was too late. He had seen his hopeless future and rejoiced when he was given a second chance. He went from being a crabby, penny-pinching miser to a cheerful, generous giver because he was grateful for grace.

In Christ, our hopeless future has been changed. In Christ, we have been given the opportunity to live a new life. A different life. We have been given eternal life. We didn’t do anything to deserve it and yet, we can accept it as a gift. And when we truly understand that, when we are truly grateful for that gracious gift…we respond accordingly out of gratitude and we give because He gave to us.

Considering today’s reflection question, I propose that like Scrooge’s nephew, we turn that question on its head. Instead of asking what reason do Christians have to give joyfully, we should ask what reason do we have not to?

Respond

Lord, I confess that at times, I have been an Ebenezer Scrooge. I have hoarded the resources that You’ve blessed me with or I have given only begrudgingly and out of obligation. But when I think about all that You’ve done for me, I realize that I’ve been given salvation and a life that I didn’t earn and don’t deserve. For that, I am grateful! So grateful that I want to give like You—freely and joyfully. Amen.

Reveal

Christians have every reason to be generous with their resources and generous with their joy. Be generous with your joy today. Look for opportunities to spread genuine cheer to those around you.