Daily Devotional – Love Is a Cheerful Giver

Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15. Love does not envy. Rather than envy, love seeks to generously bring benefit to the recipient. One of my frustrations in life is trying to bless someone that refuses it. They not only rob themselves of the blessing but my generosity too!

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”^[a]

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!“

If we come back to the way God intended it, we will give generously to others. We would not hesitate to bless and give abundantly if we know that it will be sent right back to us. Not that we will give to receive, but because we would be less worried about receiving. If I spent my entire bank balance on blessing others, I would be in a tough position if it was only a one-way street!

Instead, we should be a community of generosity. If we all gave as God lead and intended, we would open the gates to the needy and weak. 

God calls us to be a cheerful giver in a broken world. He knows that we live in a world that readily accepts, and very slowly returns the favor. Yet God still has called us to give generously and cheerfully. This is because we are called to live by faith and not by what we see! If we truly believe that God is in control and the one taking care of us. Then we should be more willing to give without receiving.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you, God, that You have given us so much more than we deserve or could ever ask. Not only have You been so generous providing my needs. You have also given the gift that can not be bought. Help me to see Your provision and guidance, and prompt me to be more generous to those around me. After all, I need not be envious because You have given me everything I need!

In Jesus name
Amen