“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”-{2 Cor 9:7}
A “CHEERFUL” Giver!
It was around Christmas time and I was walking towards my vehicle having been in a store to purchase, gifts , toys for a large family around Christmas time whom I was on my way to see along with my second oldest son, who was maybe 7-8 years old at the time. When I was in the store, and he learned why we were there, he asked if he could have some money so he could buy some presents too. I gave him some… and as we walked out later to the car park and just before I opened the doors of the vehicle, he began to laugh and laugh. His laughing was contagious, eventually I began to smile and laugh and had no idea why I was laughing, apart from his big hearty laughs!!! I looked at him carrying several plastic bags in each hand, filled with gifts. We both got in the vehicle and he was still laughing and I looked at him and again I began to laugh, and finally I asked him, what was he laughing about. He responded with words I have never forgot, “This is So much FUN!!!” and I immediately saw what the verse looked like to be “A CHEERFUL GIVER!” The word means, “HILARIOUS!” He never asked for anything for himself, his only request was to be able to help others and in doing so, was exuberant with joy and beaming, laughing and declaring, “This is So Much FUN!” An “Hilarious Giver!”
DO GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO.
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.” {Prov 3:27-28}.
Do not with-hold doing good when you have the power to do so! And in doing so we often give a little bit of our selfishness away, which is a good thing! Do good from a new heart, a loving heart, and God says He loves a Cheerful {the word means Hilarious} giver!
Do Good when it’s in your power… be a Cheerful, Hilarious Giver. The way it is written grammatically is, “A CHEERFUL GIVER GOD LOVES!” And what is the motivation. God’s Giving of His Son to us!
That day I saw through the eyes of a child what An hilarious Giver looked Like! He was not giving reluctantly, grudgingly, and questioning, “Why are you buying them presents, What about me? ” But “no,” he had lost sight of himself and was focused outward, other-ward! He was giving was gladly, enthusiastically, lovingly, hilariously, cheerfully… for others benefit and enjoyment!
All these years later, I remember as I consider this passage, and He reminds me of all those years ago and the joy, hilarity of a cheerful giver in action…
…and I pause and pray and ask Him to work in me and mine and some others whom I PRAYED FOR THAT, I AND WE WOULD Be “CHEERFUL, HILARIOUS GIVERS” MOTIVATED BY GOD’S GIVING OF HIS SON FOR US!
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’- {Hebrews 13:16}
“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”-{2 Cor 9:7}