The Father's Menu
Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
BE A CHEERFUL GIVER
“Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous,
2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMP)
Main Text: John 3
God doesn’t want gifts given in pain, He wants gifts given in joy! Those are the only kinds of gifts that pleases Him. An act done cheerfully is done with a happy heart. Apostle Paul is telling believers to give resources to the church not with a bad temper but a genuine smile and gladness of heart.
There’s a mistaken notion floating around that says when we give, we get blessed. The truth is because of the finished work of Jesus; we’ve already been made blessed. We give out of gratitude and thanksgiving, with the aim of blessing others the way God has blessed us. We can never out give God who gave the most expensive gift heaven had – His only begotten Son.
The act of giving is something the world doesn’t understand a willingness to give generously is an important part of being a powerful and influential Christian. Giving with the right attitude demonstrates selflessness the way Jesus modeled it during His earthly ministry. Christians are servants, just as Jesus was on the earth. Sowing into others’ lives demonstrates the heart of a servant. Giving is a powerful form of ministry to others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, one thing Your Son did was teach on money and financial giving. Your Word shows us how we can so we can bless/minister to others, help us to be doers of Your Word Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.
Further Reading: John 3:16 (AMP) “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” Proverbs 10:22 (AMP) “The blessing of the Lord — it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].”
Read through the Bible: Isaiah 40 & Revelation 10
