Are You Cheerful Or Hesitant When You Give?

by Chuck Ness

Sometimes it's those with the least that give the most. Jesus used a widow's offering to teach a lesson of giving from the heart.

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them;

"Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
Mark 12:41-44

It's easy to give when what you give does not even effect you, but when was the last time you went out of your way to give more than you thought the person deserved? Now I am not saying one should go broke or end up homeless because you gave all away, but to give a smidgen when you have enough to truly make a difference in their situation is what Christ expects from us. Instead of fifty cents, maybe enough for a good breakfast or lunch. Or, if after reading this, and the Lord moves you, you could do more. Basically, I speak of the kind of love Christ wants from us.

Do you question, in your mind, the motive of the one begging? Or do you give without giving it a second thought about their motive? If you give grudgingly, it's best to not give at all. We are told that we should be a cheerful giver, because God loves a cheerful givers, and He will bless such a loving gesture.

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

God knows your heart, and He knows if you are reluctant to share what he has blessed you with. Remember, all you have came from God, and but for Him you could be the homeless one begging. Don't think it could happen to you? Well I ask you to consider how quickly Job went from being a wealthy prominent man in the land, to sitting on the ground with nothing as he scrapped the sores off his skin with a broken piece of pottery.

Mind you, it was not because Job was a bad manager of his money, or because he lived a life that would usually cause a man to end up as he did. All it takes is a major disaster that stretches you beyond what you were prepared for. After all, you never know if God may decide to brag about how good a servant you are, and then allow Satan to do to you, as he did to Job.

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck
Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown
of his head.And he took for himself a potsherd with which to
scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
Job 2:7-8

Next time you see someone in need, maybe you will remember, But for the grace of God, there go you. So be mindful of today's message, but don't do it just because you expect to get paid back by God, because GOD knows your intentions.

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverb 19:17