Cheerful Giver (Part 2)
Is this the key to cheerful giving? It is for me
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My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NET)
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I gotta say, this one hits home.
Not only am I in the marketing business (where persuading people to cheerfully buy an offer is the entire point) but I’ve also been guilty of reluctantly giving to God.
The former is a cautionary tale for me because so much of that industry is filled with charlatans. Thus, I have to be careful to avoid falling into a similar trap.
The latter?
Sometimes I dream about what I could do with a tithe if I didn’t have to give it to God.
Yes, I am too often a selfish, greedy human.
So, how does this verse help me out?
Reminding me of what God loves.
God loves a cheerful giver.
That is, someone who so joyously gives to God that they laugh (at least in their heart) because it’s so wonderful.
I’m not there yet.
But what I can share is that whenever I sit back and reflect on the goodness of God, all the times He’s protected me and led me and blessed me, then I find it easier to gladly give.
In other words:
Gratitude is my path to cheerful giving.
Not-so-ironically, gratitude is one of the key emotions that many Success gurus tout as one of the keys to a wealthy life. Except they’re usually grateful to some mysterious power in the universe…
I get to be grateful to a loving Father.
So, when I really think about it, I’m definitely getting the better bargain.
Because God is good… all the time.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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