Are We Really Being "The Cheerful Giver"?

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 - The Cheerful Giver

 ⁶The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written,

    "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

   his righteousness endures forever."

 ¹⁰He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹²For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

One of the many blessings that has come from going through the process of adoption is the opportunity for self-examination and reflection (in the context of 2 Corinthians 13:4-6).  One of the areas of self-examination is with regard to what God expects of His children's stewardship (the use of our time, treasures, and talents that are all God-given).

During my relatively short Christian walk of 7 years, I have observed many examples of good stewardship within the walls of our local church.  Yet, it has been this mission of adoption that Stephanie and I are on that the Lord has used for us to observe amazing acts of stewardship within His Church (outside the walls of the visible church).  These acts include, but are not limited to:

• Brothers and Sisters in Christ that I do not know personally sharing prayer, advice, words of encouragement.
• Brothers and Sisters in Christ making precious time to support us with meals, childcare, transportation, and other services while we are traveling.
• Monetary donations on behalf of the precious girls we seek to adopt; much of which comes from people we may never meet (and with the donors to our Reece's Rainbow Account being anonymous to us).

Quite humbling, and a faith building testimony of God's abundant Grace and Mercy!  As I read over the passage above from 2 Corinthians, I ponder this question:  What makes someone a "cheerful giver", for "God loves a cheerful giver".

I found a transcript to a sermon delivered by Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III; pastor at First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jackson, MS.  I commend this teaching to you.  Within this exegesis of 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the following truths are presented:

1. Giving is a delight when we realize we are giving to God
2. Giving is a delight when we view it as worship.
3. Giving is a delight when we realize the privilege of giving.
4. Giving is a delight when we realize that in giving we are acting like Jesus.
5. Giving is a delight when we realize that God rewards for doing our duty.
6. Giving is a delight when we realize that God doesn’t want our money unless we delight in giving it.

I liked this closing quote,

"You see, God can build His kingdom without us or not.  The kingdom doesn’t hang in the balance in our support of ministry here at First Pres year, because God will raise up those who will support Him and do so happily. The only question is will we get the privilege of being a part of that here at First Pres, or will somebody else get that privilege?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss out on that privilege, and so may God make all our hearts cheerful as we give."

Amen and Amen

Understanding this teaching brings new light to this passage from Acts 4:

Acts 4:32-35 - They Had Everything in Common

 ³²Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.


Lord, may every one who has chosen to support us, and the many other families on adoption / foster care / orphan care missions to do so in the spirit of a "cheerful giver".

Soli Deo Gloria