A cheerful heart is needed for giving to be rooted in genuine generosity. There can be instances where a person gave, but didn’t want to, regretted it, or was forced into it. If that is the case, then it is not true generosity. Generosity comes from the heart of a person. Generosity is a byproduct of a Christian’s relationship with God. In other words, if a person is truly a Christian, they cannot help but give and bless others.
God was generous to us by giving His Son Jesus to die for us on the cross, even if God didn’t have to do that. Christ was the greatest act of generosity that we have received from God, not to mention all the other things God has provided for us out of His grace. Another example is that when we experience grace in Christ, it produces an abundance of joy in us. Because of the grace we have experienced in Christ, we can give generously to others.
2 Corinthians 8:1-2
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
A Cheerful Heart Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the grace that I have through Your Son Jesus. I thank You because I have this abundance of joy in Christ that can never be taken away from me and is not dependent on my circumstance. My joy is hinged upon Christ. Because of this joy that I have in Christ and Your grace, I can give generously. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Cheerful Heart Prayer
What verse says God loves a cheerful giver?
The verse “God loves a cheerful giver” is found in 2 Corinthians 9:7, where it is written:
2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
However, we recommend reading the verses around verse 7, specifically verses 6 to 15. That section talks explicitly about giving or generosity.
A Cheerful Heart Prayer
What is being a cheerful giver?
Being a cheerful giver means that you are giving willingly, out of the heart or desire, and with eagerness or excitement. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, it is written that when a person must give, they should give because they decided to do so in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion. It shows that what determines whether a person is giving “cheerfully” is their heart and not the amount.
Remember, generosity comes from one’s relationship with God. A person experiences grace through Christ, and because of that, the person has joy in Christ. It is out of that joy that a person can give. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Paul was writing to the Corinthians about the Macedonian church’s generosity towards their brothers and sisters in Christ in Jerusalem who were in need. The Macedonian church overflowed with generosity towards the Christians in Jerusalem out of the abundance of joy because of the grace of Christ. These people were in extreme poverty, yet they could still give generously with a cheerful heart. Another truth that we can get from this is that being rich or having good financial circumstances is not a prerequisite for giving with a cheerful heart.
Are you giving with a cheerful heart? Here is one simple prayer you can pray for your heart as you give:
Father in heaven, I thank You because You gave Christ Your Son to us to die for our sins, and it is the greatest act of generosity that we received from You. I pray, Father, that the grace I have experienced in Christ and the abundance of joy that I have in Him shall overflow into generosity towards others in need. Give me the grace, Father, to give out of joy no matter my financial circumstances. You have said in Your Word that You have made all grace abound to me, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, I may abound in every good work. Use me, Father, as a channel of blessing to other people. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Why does God love a cheerful giver?
As mentioned above, God loves a cheerful giver because a cheerful giver gives only because they have decided to do so in their heart. It is out of one’s joy in Christ, and it is not forced. Imagine if you are in need, and then someone gives generously to you. However, the person gave reluctantly or under compulsion. Even if an enormous amount was given to you, it does not feel good or look like it was given out of generosity. The fact that the person was reluctant or was under compulsion to give to you means that they did not want to give in the first place. No one would be glad to receive from someone like that and feel blessed. It is the same with God. Remember, God looks more at the heart than the deed in everything we do. That is why even before Christ saved us, the Bible says that our good works were like filthy rags to God, because of our sin that lies from our hardened and corrupted hearts.
Heavenly Father, I pray that I shall always give with a cheerful heart, not out of reluctance or under compulsion. I pray that I will always give willingly with all my heart. May I always give to those in need out of love and concern for others. Use me, Lord, to bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. May Your grace in my life be translated to acts of generosity. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Cheerful Heart Prayer
We mentioned that giving is all about the heart, but your heart behind giving is also reflected by the amount you give.
The root of being a cheerful giver is experiencing the grace of Christ. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that we know the grace of Christ, that though He was rich, for your sake, He became poor so that we by His poverty might become rich. We have received in Christ grace upon grace, from the moment we were born again in the Spirit, as we live our Christian lives and grow in Christlikeness as we get sanctified. Without this grace, we will never give with a cheerful heart. Also, we can give because of our joy in Christ and our contentment in Him, knowing that He is the greatest treasure of our lives.