The Weekly Devotion for the Week of August 19
As believers, we get to give joyfully, lovingly, and with gratitude.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul is speaking to the church of Corinth about the act of giving. Paul begins by urging each of us to give what we have decided in our hearts. This tells us that giving is not merely a financial transaction; it is a matter of the heart. It is an act that requires introspection, prayer, and personal decision.
True giving is not about the amount but about the intentionality behind it. It is not driven by external pressures but by a deep, internal conviction that what we offer is pleasing to God.
Paul warns against giving reluctantly or under compulsion. How often do we find ourselves giving out of a sense of obligation or guilt? When we give because we feel as though we must, rather than because we want to, we miss our true essence of generosity.
Our offerings, whether they be time, resources, or love, should never be tainted by reluctance. Compulsory giving drains the joy and blessing from the act. God does not desire gifts that are offered with a heavy heart; He desires gifts that flow freely from a heart full of love.
Finally, Paul concludes with a beautiful truth: “God loves a cheerful giver.” This is a reminder that God delights in our joy as we give in. Cheerful giving is a reflection of our trust in God’s provision and our gratitude for His endless blessings.
As we give with a joyful heart, we become conduits of God’s grace, spreading love and hope in a world that desperately needs it.