God Loves A Cheerful Giver
Last week we talked about gifts of grace. These are the gifts of kindness and words of light given out of a heart of love for the Lord. We also discovered, we can’t give what we don’t have. If we don’t have love, we can’t give love. If we are not kind, we can’t give the world the kindness it needs. If we are not filled with the light of Christ, we cannot be a light to the world. And, we found that when we give the gift of peace, peace will come to us as well. These are all gifts we can share with the people around us who walk in the dark. Spreading light can be the most important thing we as a believing community can do. When light comes into a situation, then the path to God becomes more clear.
This week we are going to talk specifically about financial giving. Learning to give peace, a smile and kindness can sometimes be difficult, especially in the midst of a pandemic, stress filled Christmas season, but, when it comes to parting with our money or possessions, it gets a bit tougher. The Bible actually has quite a lot to say about money, wealth, greed, and contentment. I have read that there are well over 2000 verses about money. Paul gives us the reason for this in 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” Note, it is the love of money not money itself that is the root of all evil. What we love controls us and, can enslave us. The love of money can cause us to do things we would never think of. In fact, I think I can safely say, every one of the 10 commandments have been broken because of the love of money in one way or another. I personal believe that may be the reason the last commandment deals with covetousness. Covetousness leads to theft, dishonoring family, lying, cheating, murder, adultery, forsaking God… Solomon says it all in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income.” In contrast, Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, “Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” If we are not satisfied with God in our lives, we will constantly be looking for other things to satisfy us – money being on the top of the list.
No, we can’t love both God and money. They do not go hand in hand. We cannot come to God with our hearts and hands holding tight to our possessions because we will never be satisfied and will constantly look for more and more and more… Instead, we must come with hands and hearts opened wide, allowing God to use us, and the many gifts He has given us, to bless others.
Vs. 1-5 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: “Achaia has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.
Paul is being quite ironic here. He uses language that normally signifies the opposite of what he says. Typically this was used for humorous or emphatic effect. Paul was definitely being emphatic. He says, it’s unnecessary for me to write to you, but I’m going to anyway. He continues, I know your eagerness to give, yet I’m sending people ahead of me to make sure that eagerness is not just a lot of talk. He talks about their promised generous gift, yet wants to make sure it doesn’t result in extortion. The Greek word for extortion is pleonexia, which means covetousness beyond God’s preferred will. A gift that seems big, yet given with a heart that wishes to be noticed. Remember the 10th commandment? It’s very possible to covet praise and exhortation. We’ve all been guilty at one time or another of wanting to be noticed for what we do or give. Paul is concerned that the church at Corinth promised a lot, but were unwilling to deliver on their promise. They just wanted to be known for their great gifts, not really give. This is why Paul writes this letter to them. He is sending them a warning – think about what you are saying and doing. Where is your heart? This becomes apparent as we continue in the next set of verses.
Vs. 6-9 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.
Paul says, “each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” God doesn’t look at the outer stuff, He looks at our heart. We, on the other hand, tend to look at all the outer trappings. We can be easily impressed with large public donations or good deeds. In Luke 16:13-15, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees when He says, ”No household slave can be the slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t be slaves to both God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at Him. And He told them: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.” The Pharisees aimed to impress those around them with their “gracious giving” and “good deeds”, but God saw right through them. He looked directly into their hearts and knew the reason behind everything they did. God also looks in our hearts. He knows why we give what we give and wants us to be cheerful givers.
What exactly is a cheerful giver? After doing some research on the Greek word used for cheerful, I found the English translation falling woefully short of it’s true meaning. In fact, the Greek word is rather eye-opening. It is hilaros. From hilaros, we get the English word hilarious. Yes, you read it right. We are not just to be “cheerful” givers, we are to be hilarious givers. Give with a joyful abandon to the point of absurdity. That changes a lot about how I think about giving. What does it mean to give hilaros? At the end of this section, Paul gives us a quote from Psalm 112 that will help. The chapter begins with “Hallelujah! Happy is the man who fears the Lord, taking great delight in His commands.” The chapter continues outlining several traits for a righteous man. In verse 9, one of those traits is that he will “distribute freely to the poor.” The Hebrew word used for freely is pazar, which means to scatter. The giver is not concerned about designation, but instead scatters his gifts. He gives with hilarity. It is absurd to think he might waste the seed, but that is exactly what will happen if he scatters his gifts. He doesn’t hold anything back. He is joyful and comes with open hands and an open heart, knowing God will provide all his needs. He is completely satisficed in God. Isn’t this the type of givers we need more of today? As I type this, I am praying God will help me to be a hilarious giver, scattering my gifts as the Biblical farmers scattered their seed, allowing God to use my gifts as He pleases.
Vs. 10-15 Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
God is the One who provides the seed. He provides all we have and has made us stewards of His many blessings. More importantly, He is the One who can, and will, increase the harvest. When we are generous, God is more generous. Our hilarious generosity overflows to the receiver’s abundant thanksgiving to God, and our blessings will glorify God even more. As we give, we will also remember His hilaros, indescribable, amazing gift to us in His Son Jesus. He held nothing back even to death on the cross.
Right now, we are in the midst of the Christmas season. We celebrate and remember the incarnation of Jesus, God’s gift to us. It is also a season of gift-giving and a time when we think of others. We are reminded of the gifts the magi gave to the Christ child of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Let’s look for a moment at what each gift represents, and how we are blessed, even now, because of that gift. Gold represents Emmanuel, God with us. The blessing we remember is the mercy seat, made of pure gold, the place of hope and forgiveness. Now, we have our hope and place of forgiveness in Emmanuel. Frankincense was a spice used at the altar of incense as the prayers of God’s people rose to the throne of God, a pleasing aroma. The blessing that comes from this gift is, we can now come before the very throne of God with our prayers, thanksgiving and petitions on behalf of those in need. And He will answer our prayers. Finally, myrrh, a spice used for the burial of Jesus representing His great sacrifice for us. The blessing is His gift of mercy and grace, and we will be with Him for all eternity.
Lord, we thank you for your wonderful and amazing gifts of grace and mercy. We pray we would become hilarious, even absurd givers of the many things you have blessed us with. We want to come before you bearing gifts that we can scatter all around us, allowing You to bring in the harvest. May our offerings be holy and pleasing to You and may they produce abundant thanksgiving and blessings to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
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