Give Cheerfully

MAR 26  / Sunday | Series: Impossible Commands – 1 Chron 29:13-18 / 2 Cor 9:7 / Mark 10:25, 27

Overview: God asks us to be cheerful givers. But can we give away valuable things (money, time, possessions) and still be cheerful about it?

27 / Mon – What, how, and a promise  |  Read 2 Corinthians 9:7

God’s commands are not always easy, but they are always good. This command has two parts. First is to give. Why is giving good for you? Because it is an antidote to greed and to the lie that the more you have the happier you’ll be and the more secure you will feel. Does real life bear that out? Not in the long run. Second is to give cheerfully. What are some of the ways you give that bring you joy? What things do you give grudgingly? Why is there a difference between those two?

28 / Tue – It isn’t always about money  |  Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11

When you hear the importance of giving, do you usually think about money? In the beginning, when God first commanded his people to be openhanded and generous with others, it was about sharing what they had…grain, livestock, shelter, whatever someone else needed at that moment. Does it surprise you that God isn’t just asking you to give money but also wants you to give things…like your time, your ability to fix things, your baking skills or your dumb dad jokes? What is in your hand? Ask God to help you share it cheerfully and see what happens.

29 / Wed – How much?  |  Read Malachi 3:10 / Luke 11:39-42

One of the ways God taught his people to manage their resources was the instruction to give a tithe. Maybe you have heard that term. It means 10%. Abraham was the first. It continued with Jacob and was a command given to the Israelites when they left Egypt. Jesus reaffirmed tithing in the New Testament. Does a tenth seem like too large an amount to give? Are you nervous that you won’t have enough left for the rest of your needs? It can help you see this as a way to honor God and express confidence in his ability to provide.

30 / Thu – What if…  |  Read Luke 12:15-21

For some people, what they own and the amount in their bank account defines them. It gives them a feeling of worth. If that is the case, giving cheerfully is very difficult. Is it possible that God has blessed you for the expressed purpose of being a blessing to others? What might have happened if this rich farmer saw his extraordinary harvest as an opportunity to bless his community instead of using it for his own selfish desires? You may not be rich in your own eyes but ask God to show you what he wants you to give. You will not only bless others but also him!

31 / Fri – Start here  |  Read John 15:5 / Philippians 4:11-13, 19

Obeying this seemingly impossible command starts with confessing that you can’t. Maybe you have tried to be a more generous, cheerful giver and failed. It is okay to say so. In fact, it’s the best place to start. The next step is godly sorrow that you have become so attached to your things or money that they have become more important than obeying God. And then ask for the Holy Spirit to enable your obedience, first to be as generous as our God is and then to find joy in your giving.

01 / Sat – What’s next?  |  Read James 1:5 and 2:15-17 / 2 Corinthians 9:8

It’s important to confess your inability to obey this difficult command, to express your sorrow for your condition and then to ask for God’s help to do so. But the process is incomplete without action. What is the easiest thing for you to give? Praise God for that. Now look at what is more difficult for you to be generous with. Instead of thinking how your resources will be diminished, consider how you can bless others who have less than you do. It is an opportunity to follow in Jesus’ footsteps who held nothing back but gave even his life.