Give Cheerfully From The Heart
BRD REFLECTIONS
2 Corinthians 9 and Psalm 87 (NIV)
(Yeo Su Chen, Chairperson, Communications)
READ:
2 Corinthians 9 and Psalm 87 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
When it comes to giving, a few Scripture teachings will come to mind, including: I have to set my sights and gaze on things above (Colossians 3:2), where my treasure is, there my heart will be also (Matthew 6:21) and this passage in 2 Corinthians 9. Most of all, I am reminded that I must love my neighbour as myself.
Paul’s passage in 2 Corinthians 9 is still very relevant today. Every time I read this passage, it reminds me to be faithful to the Lord, to trust in and thank Him for His provisions; and to love His people by sharing what I have.
In this passage, Paul exhorts his followers to give generously and cheerfully of their resources. The giving, including time, talent and specifically, treasures, must come from a willing heart and be executed cheerfully because God “loves a cheerful giver” (verse 7). More than the quantum of our giving or what I can give, God looks at my heart.
Giving is an act of our obedience and trust in the Lord. I give because, as a Christian, I am constantly reminded by the Scripture that I must look out for those who may need my help or support in different ways; sharing what I have with others around me is an expression of loving my neighbour. Generous giving also demonstrates my trust in God’s abundant providence. It also reminds me of how generous and benevolent my Heavenly Father is.
APPLY:
In a consumeristic world where “money talks” most of the time, I must be very mindful of and focused on the teachings of the Lord when it comes to financial matters and concerns. I need to centre myself on things above and keep my heart on Jesus so that I will store my treasures in God’s kingdom and share whatever I have with others around me.
Everything I have comes from God, and apart from Him, I am nothing. So, giving a portion of what had come from Him to help, support, or cheer up my neighbours is an act enabled only by the Lord. I can give only because the Lord has first given me an indescribable gift in the Lord Jesus.
Once I can grasp and experience with my heart and mind all the above, I can attain contentment with what I have or do not have and give more cheerfully to share with others. And others will see that it is Christ who is working through me.
DO:
I have to:
Demonstrate the love and faithfulness of God through my generosity as His child.
Be more charitable, considerate, and caring towards others through the giving of my financial resources.
Trust in the Lord for His providence.
Give cheerfully from the heart and not reluctantly or grudgingly.
Be more prudent in my spending so that I can have more to give to others.
Remind myself that my occasional little acts of kindness for others are nothing compared to the grace of my Heavenly Father, who was unstinting and lavish in His love for me.
PRAY:
Most gracious God, thank you for the good gifts and material things that You have provided me as I live in this world. I know that everything I have comes from you; so help me to loosen my grip on things in this world and fix instead my gaze steadily on my treasures in heaven. Help me to look out for the needs of my neighbours so that in sharing what I have with them, I will always be a channel of your grace for all your people. Put me to loving, helping, sharing and enduring, only for Your sake. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
