My definition of The Cheerful Giver is one who has been deeply affected by the word of God, and he/she demonstrates his/her gratitude to God, by consciously and meticulously giving with his/heart, rather than with his/her mind. The cheerful giver is not just any giver, but he/she has experienced the love, life, power, faithfulness and goodness of God; therefore, he/she faithfully worships God with their giving. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “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.
I particularly refer to this kind of giver, as “the Giver” and not a giver because this person is influenced by the Holy Spirit, and he/she is not deterred by mental, emotional or physical barriers. This person is a carrier of God’ Spirit and he/she simply reflects the heart of God, through their wilful and meticulously planned giving. The cheerful giver is an imitator of Jesus Christ, in character and in deeds.
The cheerful giver is always ready to be used by God as His instrument of love, to demonstrate His giving nature. He/she is a pawn in the Hand of God; and he/she loves it. This person has truly passed from death to life, because he/she has mastered a pleasing way into God’s heart through giving lovingly. 1 John 3:14,” We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death”. The cheerful giver is God’s hands at work on the earth; and this person is not only deeply loved, cherished, and blessed by God; he/she is divinely protected by God. God will become a wall of Fire around this person, so much so, that even his enemies and devils fear him. Zechariah 2:5, “And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within. This person is not fearful because his love for God, covers a multitude of sins”.
The cheerful giver calls those things that be not, as though they are, because, he/her knows and have full confidence in whom they believe. This person is a Faith detonator. He/she carries the light of God wherever they go. He/she is truly what the bible refers to as “The Salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. When the cheerful giver prays, you can be rest assured, that his/her prayers does not wait in the queue like others, before God. God recognises the voice of the cheerful giver amongst multitude, and He honours him/her. God will not withhold any good deeds thing from such a person. Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly”.
God does not joke about when it comes to two kinds of people; and they are the soul winners and the cheerful givers. This is because these two kinds of people, are beautiful example of God’s love, heart and will. These ones are builders and not scatterers in the House of God. The cheerful giver delights greatly in putting smiles on God’s face, and likewise other people. Now, I will call this person, the expression of God’s love, image and likeness. He/she may not be void of committing sin; but is quickly forgiven by God when he/she soulfully repents. God loves the cheerful givers intently and is quick to rebuke/correct them severely.
The main difference between a giver and the cheerful giver, is based on how much of God’s word and Spirit has affected him/her. Whilst a giver contributes based on his/her emotions and the physical evidence around him/her; the cheerful giver on the other hand, contributes based on his/her faith, and is influenced by the Holy Spirit. When a giver gives to God, he/she gives with opened eyes, and a closed mind. But it is not so with the cheerful giver; he/she gives to God with closed eyes, and an open heart.
Good examples of A Giver in the bible are:
1. Cain: Genesis 4:3-4, “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
2. The Rich gave offerings: Mark 12, “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts”.
3. The Priests blemished offerings to God: Malachi 1:6-9. “A son honours his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honour due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”-says the Lord Almighty.
Great examples of The Cheerful Givers in the bible are:
1. King Solomon: Genesis 3:2-13, “The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord. Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.
But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.So, give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for-both wealth and honour-so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.
2. The widow of Zarephath: 1 Kings 17:9-16, “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food. ”So, he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink? ”As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread-only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-and die.”
Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So, there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.
3. Dorcas Tabitha, her giving saved her: Act 9:36-42, “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so, when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive”.
4. The widow gave her offering: Mark12:42-44, “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on”.
25 Characters of The Cheerful Giver
1. This person loves, adores and cherishes God.
2. This person fears God and reverences the things of God.
3. This person operates in the gifts of Revelation Knowledge.
4. This person has experienced God personally and deeply.
5. This person heart is full of Agape love.
6. This person has put God to the test and found Him faithful.
7. This person sees with and through the eyes of God.
8. This person is an evidence that God’s word work.
9. The person understands the meaning of storing treasures in Heaven, and not on the earth.
10. This person operates in the gift and principles of Faith, with Grace.
11. This person is victorious and blessed in every way.
12. This person has the right to prosper effortlessly, even as his/her soul prospers.
13. This person loves truth and detests lies.
14. This person wins souls for God’s Kingdom.
15. This person was an experienced follower; now a matured Leader.
16. This person is full of Joy, peace and happiness.
17. This person is a friend of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
18. This person is loved by many people, and highly respected by his/her own household.
19. This person is not pompous, boastful or arrogant.
20. This person is very relevant to God purpose and will; and in the lives of many.
21. This person is full wisdom and is controlled by the Holy Spirit.
22. This person walks in the spirit of excellence.
23. This person is a true worshiper, who worships God through his/her giving.
24. This person is a lender and not a borrower.
25. This person is not self-seeking or self-centred.
As children of the Most High God, let us endeavour to be pleasing to God through our giving. God has no need for our possessions or money, but He wills us to be imitators of Jesus, so that we will experience only His best. Until we can serve God with our possessions and money in Spirit and in Truth, we will not be able to walk in God’s best for us. When we give God our best with a cheerful and matured heart, our gifts are attached with a return address spiritually. When God receives our best gifts to Him, He looks at the return address on the gifts; and He commands His angels to bless that person with only His best treasures. The attitude with which we give gifts whether big or small, is detrimental to how well the gifts are received.
I tell people often; love God like David and give to God like Solomon. When a giver gives to God, God smiles; but when the cheerful giver gives to God, God laughs hysterically, because He saw him/her from afar coming before Him, to challenge Him with his/her giving. Bear this consciousness always, that although we are not our gifts; our gifts do sincerely represent us!
Praise God!
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