2 Corinthians 9:7
God Loves A Cheerful Giver
Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church
January 22, 2006
Introduction
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for 30 years. He was nominated by President Teddy Roosevelt. It has been said that his mind, wit and work earned him the unofficial title of "the greatest justice since John Marshall." It seems that at one point in his life he was asked about his career choice. Justice Holmes explained his choice by saying: "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers."
I really don’t think much has changed in the years that have passed since he said that, but I really do not think that it is a clergy problem – it is a Christian problem. Ask any choir member to describe the looks of joy they see in your faces on Sunday morning and it may not be joy they describe. Are our expressions those of joy and delight, or are they those of distraction and boredom? It has been said many times from many pulpits that we of all people ought to be the happiest people on earth. Ours truly is joy unspeakable and full of glory!
Today as we conclude this series of messages on giving, I want us to consider 2 Corinthians 9:7. It is a verse I mentioned briefly last Sunday, but wanted to devote an entire message to it today. Let’s read what Paul said.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
I believe that God is in control of all things. If you read the monthly newsletter then you know I had made plans back in December to preach this verse today, but after writing last Sunday’s sermon and preaching this verse as part of that message I really had no idea how I would devote an entire message to it. On Monday as I was working in the yard I was praying about it again when the Lord brought to mind a brief conversation that took place after church last Sunday. I won’t tell you who said it, and I hope the individual doesn’t mind me saying it, but after I finished preaching someone approached me and said to me as best as I remember, “Preacher, let’s see if I have this right. If I understood you right then the only way God will love me is if I am giving my money.”
I’m not sure I quoted it just right, but I want to tell you I chewed on that all week. After all, the Bible says that “God loves a cheerful giver.” Could that be reversed to say that God does not love uncheerful givers? Or that God does not love people who do not give? I remembered another conversation with a dear lady who was sorely upset that she was unable to give like she used to give. She told me that she hoped God would not punish her for cutting back on her giving. In other words, she feared that God would love her less if she gave less. Am I or are we guilty of manipulating people into giving by sending out the message that God will only love them if they are giving to the church?
I have preached before and will continue to preach that there’s nothing you can do in this life to make God love you any more than He already loves you. It is also true that there’s nothing you can do to make God love you any less. God proved His love for you when He sent Christ to earth to live and die for your sins. He proved that He had infinite love for you when He crucified His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary to save a wretch like me. God could not possibly love you or me any more than He has already demonstrated.
No matter what you do with your life, no matter how badly you mess it up, no matter your poor decisions or mistakes or even how far into sin you run, you cannot make God love you any less. Today He stands with arms open wide to receive you if you will only repent of your sin and turn to Him for salvation or a renewed relationship with Him.
The Bible says that God loves everyone. God obviously feels something differently for those who cheerfully give than He does for those who do not. So why is there this distinction about His love for those who give cheerfully when He already loves us? This morning I want you to consider three things for which God is looking when you give, regardless of what you give, and then I’ll close by stating why He is looking for them.
God Is Looking For Giving From The Heart
Paul said, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart…” Notice he did not say, “Every man according as he has deliberated in his mind.” You may prove me wrong, but I believe it to be true that the heart is usually more concerned in the business of giving than the head. If I am to give liberally, it is because I followed my heart for God’s work, or because I followed my heart for a hurting family.
You check it out and see if it is not true. Someone will come to you with a need. You feel in your heart a compelling to help the missionary or to help the poor widow or child, but you reason in your mind, “I cannot help this man. I know he is a missionary and wants my support, but he can work a job and support his own family without me having to do it.” Your heart may say give, but your head will most often talk you out of it. I cannot tell you how many times I have walked past the Salvation Army people or others like them as they stand outside a store for donations, and I reach into my pocket for change, but then I talk myself out of giving it when I get to the bucket. I am guessing that many of you do the same.
Henry Ford was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility. The billionaire pledged to donate $5,000. The next day in the newspaper, the headline read, "Henry Ford contributes $50,000 to the local hospital." The irate Ford was on the phone immediately to complain to the fund-raiser that he had been misunderstood. The fund-raiser replied that they would print a retraction in the paper the following day to read, "Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000." Realizing the poor publicity that would result, the industrialist agreed to the $50,000 contribution.
Listen, God is not looking for giving that comes that way. He wants giving that is moved by a heart of love and concern for others. He is looking for giving that comes from a heart for ministry, from a heart for missions, from a heart of love for Him!
He is looking for a heart that purposes to give. In other words, you have deliberately chosen to give. When the plate passes, you do not take out a dollar or two at the last minute and call it purposeful giving. You have chosen to give an amount to God from the heart because you feel led to do so. So, God is looking for giving that comes from the heart.
God Is Looking For Commitment
Paul said, “so let him give…” It is one thing to purpose to give or even to feel like you ought to give, but it is a whole other thing to actually give. Did you know that J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, gave approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes? J.D. Rockefeller said that he never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars he ever made if he had not tithed his first salary, which was $1.50 per week."
You may never make a million dollars. I hope you do, but would you tithe from it? Commitment is all about following through with where you are right now. It’s not about “what-ifs” or “I hope sos.” God impresses on your heart what you ought to do today, and you purpose in your heart to do it. Then when the time comes, He looks for you to actually do what you committed to do.
God Is Looking For Joy
Jesus said that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Someone else said it this way: “Where your pleasure is, there your treasures; where your treasure is, there your heart is; and where your heart is, there your happiness is. Paul said that “God loves a cheerful giver.”
Let me ask you this: Why do you give? Really – I want you to think about that question. Why do you give? Give it some serious thought. As far as that goes, why do you do anything for the Lord? Why do you come to church? Why do you read your Bible? Why do you serve as a deacon? Why do you teach a class? Why do you help your neighbor? Why do you minister to that man or woman? Why do you go to the nursing home? Why do you stop at the hospital to visit a friend? And again, why do you give?
Do you do it because it is your duty? Or do you do it because you delight to do it? Listen, God is not looking for a disinterested giver. He is not looking for a dutiful giver. He is looking for joy in your giving. He wants to know that you delight in doing it. And who does not?
Let me give you an example I have used before. It is your anniversary or some special occasion. You take your wife out to a nice restaurant. The two of you are enjoying a nice romantic time together when she looks into your eyes and says, “I want to thank you for this time together. It is so thoughtful of you.” And then you say to her, “Why, don’t think a thing about it. I’m just doing my duty.”
Consider another example from Hebrews 13:17.
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
There’s a lot here we won’t treat, but the verse is speaking about pastors. It says that as a pastor I watch over your souls. In fact, it says I must watch over your souls in two ways. First, I must do it remembering that one day I will be judged for how I pastor you. But secondly, and this is the part I want you to see, I must watch over your souls with joy, not with grief. In other words, God wants me to delight in doing the work of a pastor. I am not to delight in the position so much as I am to delight in the work.
Now, watch this: why? Why am I to delight in watching for your souls? Why am I to do it cheerfully and not grudgingly? Because it is profitable for you if I do it with delight. Do you see that? I profit you nothing if I minister to you with a grudge toward you or toward God for calling me here. It is only as I delight in being your pastor that qualifies as genuine love for you or God. I know that you love me. But it brings you great delight when you know that I delight to minister to you. Do you see the difference?
It does not matter how great a gift you may give. It really does not matter how much you serve or help or minister. If what you give or what you do is forced or given with a grudge or even with a lack of interest, why should we think it is desirable? God desires your heart in every service. If our services is not cheerful and voluntary, or if our giving does not arise from true love to Him and true delight in Him, then we have no reason to believe that any of it brings any sense of delight to Him.
Conclusion
God is looking for three things in your giving. He is looking for giving from the heart. He is looking for you to follow through with what you commit to do. God is looking for joyful giving. Why? Because it is this kind of giving that shows a heart like His own.
Does God love you? Yes – and He loves you whether you give or not. He loves you whether your giving is cheerful or not, but when you offer your time, your talents, and your treasures to Him as I have outlined for you today, you can be sure that it brings Him great pleasure. It makes His heart swell with great joy. He loves: takes great delight in your thoughtful, committed and cheerful giving.
You may be saying to yourself this morning, “Well I cannot say that I really delight to give. In fact, since I cannot give cheerfully I should just quit giving.” I have heard people say that before, but that is the wrong solution. The answer is not to quit, the answer is to experience a change of heart. If you lack joy in your service or joy in your giving, then confess it to God and repent of it. Ask Him to bring you joy. Ask Him to help you enjoy giving like you’ve never enjoyed it before. You keep giving and pray all the while and God will give you the desires of your heart.
I want to invite you to come to Him today. God is the ultimate giver. He has set the example for us. He gave His Son Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for our sins so that we might have a personal relationship with Him. He didn’t have to do it, but because of His great love for us He did. That’s God. But consider Jesus. He didn’t have to go to the cross, but He did. In fact, Hebrews 12:2 tells us to consider Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Why? For you. He gave everything He had for you. Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior? Have you ever come to the place in your life where you recognized your sinfulness and that you needed to trust Him as your Savior? Today you may be waiting on some special feeling or an emotion to overwhelm you. You may be waiting to get your life cleaned up or to get some things straightened out. Listen to me: if you know you need to be saved then today is the day of salvation. Don’t put it off another day.
