In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, he commanded them to give of their means to fund a benevolent need in Judah. Such giving is an important aspect of our service to the Master. He has given us so much, it is only right and proper we respond by giving back to Him and the work He would have us to do.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul revisited the command, giving some extra thoughts for us to consider. He wrote, “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation” (2 Corinthians 9:5). You might consider it surprising that anyone would begrudge an offering made to the Lord, but it is in fact quite common. There could be many reasons, but consider first of all that it is giving up your money to fund something for someone else. It is easy to think of the someone else as being anyone other than God.
Paul would know this, and again and again tied giving to our service to God. Benevolence, Evangelism and Edification, though impacting the lives of men, is the work that God has ordained we do as a church. Such works have to be funded. God has give only one example regarding that funding. “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Consider the words, “let each one of you lay something aside.” If you have prospered and are a child of God, you have an obligation to use some of that money to support the work of God in this world. This is a simple logical fact.
So knowing it is an obligation, Paul hastens to appeal to the generosity of the Corinthians. Attitude is so important in fulfilling our duties to God. We consider all that Jesus Christ did for us in coming to earth and dying on the cross, and it is obvious that we should respond to that sacrifice by acting sacrificially ourselves. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
This is why our first day of the week contribution should be generous. It is why Paul wrote, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
God loves a cheerful giver. Don’t give because you have to. Consider the sacrifice of Jesus, and rejoice that you have an opportunity to give something back to Him!
