Comic Relief

I love this little verse in 2 Corinthians 9: "for God loves a cheerful giver." That word "cheerful" comes from a word that means "hilarious." I love that. God loves a person who gives, not grudgingly, not sparingly, not tentatively, but with hilarity!

Is that how you feel when the offering plate comes around? Does it feel like a huge magnet is holding your money in your wallet and it takes everything you have to pry it loose? Giving is actually a sign of maturity in the believer. Though there is no law of tithing in the New Testament, there is a principal of tithing.

Jesus fulfilled the entire Law and then put that law into our hearts. So instead of an external rule to give, Jesus has made it a part of who we are to give to His work.

And to those who think deep in their hearts that if they give to God He will pour out material blessings on their life I would say to read on in 2 Corinthians 9. The focus of this part of the chapter is giving so that God will supply to you the ability to give more!

I conclude with verse 10: "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed" why? "for sowing and increase the harvest" of what? "of your righteousness."

See, God wants us to freely give ourselves and our possessions to Him so that He can freely give His character to us. I think that's a great bargain.

Pastor Tom