Have you ever wondered how those who don’t have much to give, go about giving cheerfully? We hear all the time in church, especially during offering time that “God loves a cheerful giver.” I’ve also heard on numerous occasions that the church should expand so much further than the four walls that we visit once or twice a week.
Now I don’t want you to think of this blog as an excuse to get out of paying your tithes and offering. I believe that if you call yourself a member at a church that is doing great things and you’re partaking in the use of their facilities and events that you should give back to them. If God has blessed you with enough money to bless your local ministry without inconveniencing your livelihood than you most definitely should.
This blog can be utilized for those who are genuinely interested in ways that they can give and bring glory to God outside of the traditional tithes and offering collected at church.
One way that I’ve started exercising my right to be a cheerful giver is by volunteering my time. I’ve recently jumped at a couple of opportunities to help a local company film a few things for their brand. These jobs have often taken up a healthy portion of my time and talents but it has been so rewarding and fun! To be able to give cheerfully of my time and work as unto the Lord has been really cool to experience. If you have the opportunity to do something that you love for others free of charge or without expecting to receive anything in return I would do it! As believers we are able to take care of each other in this way, and the Lord who knows our hearts and intentions will always take notice of our efforts.
Another way that I’ve practiced being a cheerful giver is by investing in others monetarily. Whether someone’s birthday is coming up and you want to honor them with something special, or you know of a couple of people transitioning in life after marriage, graduation or having a baby I would take the opportunity to sow a seed into their lives. I also think by giving in this way it conditions our hearts to give with excitement and cheer. And I want to emphasize again the importance of not inconveniencing yourself to give to others. The Bible is very clear about giving a measure of what we have and not giving what we don’t honestly have to contribute to someone else’s life. I will also note that sometimes God will require us to sacrifice in our giving to him so that he knows we trust more in him than in the money he has allowed us to make on our jobs. We always want to be led by the Holy Spirit in our giving. Tell him of your plans before emptying out you bank account. All we have to do is seek him and he’ll point us in the direction that we need to go concerning situations that we may be unsure.
The last way, and potentially the most challenging way to give cheerfully of your time is emotionally. Sometimes merely sitting down and being a listening ear for someone who says you’re easy to talk to is a way to cheerfully give. Or maybe you have a friend who reaches out often saying that they enjoy your company or would like to spend some time with you. I would look at those opportunities as a chance to consult the Holy Spirit to make sure that your time spent together is fruitful. And that could be as simple as asking, “Lord I pray that my friend and I have a great time together today. I pray our interaction will be honest and kind and that by spending time with me they may be brought closer to you.” Or your prayer may sound a little something like, “Lord I pray that you will lead me in my time with my friend. I pray that I’m able to offer a biblical world view of things that will shed light on their current life situation.” Or “Lord help me to be the kind, listening ear that my friend may need most in this moment.”
I honestly believe outside of giving traditionally in a church setting that giving of your time, money and emotional support are other ways in which we can cheerfully give unto the Lord in service to others around us.
Take some time to sit with the Holy Spirit this week. Review your talents and hobbies with him and ask him to help you dream up ideas to cheerfully give. Maybe you love kids and art and would like to paint faces at your towns local fair. Maybe there is a friend that you haven’t seen in a little while and would like to check in on them and see how they’re doing. Maybe there is a retirement home that you can volunteer with, having conversations with those who aren’t able get up and go like they use to or with those who have lived awhile and their spouses are no longer with us.
The possibilities are endless and the Lord will honor you if you honor him!
I hope you have a great day!
Love,
Amber
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