God loves a Cheerful Giver

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People should not contribute out of obligation. Rather, God loves a cheerful giver!

 


 

INTRODUCTION

 

The LORD God sometimes calls his people to take up a freewill collection from the people. The leaders are not permitted to use coercion. Participation is completely voluntary.

This voluntary nature of giving is echoed in the New Testament. However, in our day, preachers almost always make it seem like people are obliged to give money to support the group. They turn voluntary giving into an obligation.

  • Some leaders do it by clever argumentation
  • Other leaders call for a “pledge” of monthly support
  • Still other leaders impose an outright tax, sometimes called an “appeal”

Any such thing is unbiblical. It transforms the pure wine of voluntary giving into the poisonous water of obligation.

The result is that when it comes to their tithing, people almost always feel obligation. And guilt.

Their Christian leaders have robbed them of their freedom and joy. Those are the biblical motives for giving.

  • If people feel inspired to give, and if it brings them JOY, they may do so
  • If people are made to feel obliged, they should not give
  • If giving doesn’t give people joy, they should not give

It is the joyfulness of our tithe, our freewill gift, that is most pleasing to God. He loves it when we delight in giving!

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

Exodus 25:2. Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering.

Exodus 35:5. Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’s offering: gold, silver, bronze,

Exodus 35:21. They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments.

2 Kings 12:4. Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the LORD’s house, in current money, the money of the people for whom each man is evaluated, and all the money that it comes into any man’s heart to bring into the LORD’s house,

1 Chronicles 29:9. Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

2 Chronicles 24:9. They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

2 Chronicles 24:10. All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had filled it.

2 Chronicles 31:14. Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the gatekeeper at the east gate, was over the free will offerings of God, to distribute the LORD’s offerings and the most holy things.

 

Sirach 35:9. With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. (NAB translation)

 

2 Corinthians 8:2. how in much proof of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:4. begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

2 Corinthians 9:7. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion. for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

NOTES

This article was originally published on March 7, 2019.

 


Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.