The Lord is pleased when His children become givers and desire to bless others. The scripture states when we liberally bless others out of a pure heart full of God’s love, abundant blessings will return to us in the same measure we give out. When we give out of a pure heart, and give with the purpose of blessing others, and not to relieve our false guilt or because we want a blessing in return, the rewards are great! Generous giving will ultimately bless the giver with great joy and be a catalyst in overcoming being self-absorbed and selfish. On the other hand, we are told if we scarcely bless others because of reluctance, unwillingness or stinginess, we will scarcely reap a blessing. It is a spiritual law: we will reap what we sow!
Many times when we consider blessing others, we think of helping them financially, and of course this type of giving can be a great blessing to those in need. But truly financial needs in people’s lives are not always the greatest need, because financial problems are usually hooked into the negative consequences and deceptions the enemy has gradually worked into their lives. Also, unfortunately there are some who would take advantage of a Christian’s generous giving in a dis-honest way. This type of manipulation is heart breaking to the giver, but it must not stop our compassion and love towards others that are truly in need and looking to the Savior for help. In fact, God rewards all givers, even if the receiver is manipulative! As givers we must learn how to trust God’s leading and discernment to help us see and understand who He would have us reach out to financially. Yet, the truth is we don’t need money or material goods for God to use us to bless. The Lord takes pleasure when His children cheerfully give of themselves to others; loving, listening, praying encouraging, caring, giving, accepting, understanding, appreciating, esteeming, visiting, being kind to, volunteering- just to name a few. God is very creative and will give us various opportunities and ideas on how to be a giver and bless others. Then, sooner or later the measure in which we love, care, and give out of a pure heart to others will come back to us.
When we give, let our motivation not be guilt or coercion but a pure, joyful, purposed heart. Always remember that God takes pleasure in cheerful givers whose hearts are in their giving!
II Corinthians 9:6-7
[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. Let each one [give] 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 do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].
