"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Giving isn't anything spectacular if you're not doing with the right heart attitude. This verse says that we shouldn't give reluctantly or under compulsion. I looked up the word compulsion, because to be honest I can use the word correctly in a sentence but I couldn't really define it for you, and it means a strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act, especially one that is irrational or contrary to one's will. The Lord doesn't want us to give because of impulse. That's really interesting because often times there are opportunities to give that cause you to do it on impulse but this verse highlights that God wants us to put thought and prayer into the decisions we make on giving. We shouldn't give reluctantly and we shouldn't give irrationally either.
I really like how the end of this verse says that God loves a cheerful giver. This clearly emphasizes that God is indeed looking at our hearts when we give and that we should do it with His joy. This, for me, is something I need to work on not only in giving but also in serving. Often times I can do something because I feel that I am obligated to do it but I don't do it with the joy of the Lord. It's such a pity when that happens because there is so much to be gained from giving and serving with the joy of the Lord. It not only makes the task that much better but it also glorifies God more!
"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 2 Corinthians 9:12
I love the result of giving, that it not only supplies the needs of God's people but more importantly that it causes and overflowing of thanksgiving to God! How awesome is it that our simple act of kindness can bring people to praise God and be thankful to Him?! Is that not the whole reason that we are alive, to glorify God?
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