Giving cheerfully is an important part of the Christian life. The Bible has much to say about giving and doing so with the right heart attitude. Here are 9000 words on how we can become more cheerful givers according to biblical principles.
Give Generously
The Bible encourages generosity in giving. We read in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving generously demonstrates a heart of cheerfulness, trusting God to provide for us. It reflects our gratitude for all that God has given us.
In Proverbs 11:24-25 we read “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Generosity brings blessing from God. As we give freely of what He has given us, He promises to enrich and bless us in return.
Generosity also reflects God’s incredible generosity shown to us. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Christ gave up heavenly riches to make us spiritually rich. As we remember His sacrifice, it motivates us to give cheerfully and generously.
Give Purposefully
Giving should be purposeful, not haphazard. We read in 2 Corinthians 9:7 to give “as he has decided in his heart.” We are to thoughtfully and prayerfully decide how much to give. Giving cheerfully involves planning and purposing in our hearts.
We also give purposefully when we give toward specific needs. The early church gave regularly to help fellow believers in need (Acts 11:27-30). The Philippians gave toward supporting Paul’s missionary work (Philippians 4:15-16). Purposeful and planned giving leads to cheerful giving as we see the fruit it bears in people’s lives.
Setting aside a regular portion of our income to give is another way to be purposeful. As Paul directed the Corinthians to set aside money on the first day of each week (1 Corinthians 16:2). Planning for giving helps us to give cheerfully instead of haphazardly.
Give Voluntarily
Cheerful givers give voluntarily, not under compulsion. As 2 Corinthians 9:7 puts it, God loves a cheerful giver not one who gives “reluctantly or under compulsion.” Giving should spring from the heart, not external pressure. Paul wants the Corinthians to give “as you have made up your mind” (2 Cor. 9:7).
We give cheerfully when we make up our minds to give freely. It should come from willing hearts of gratitude to God. Compelled giving breeds resentment. But voluntary giving produces cheerfulness. When we determine in our hearts the amount we will give, then giving brings joy.
This voluntary spirit also means God does not demand a set amount from each person. We should purpose and decide based on personal factors. Your giving will look different than someone else’s. But deciding what you voluntarily want to give facilitates cheerful giving.
Give Sacrificially
Cheerful giving often requires giving sacrificially. By sacrificial, we mean giving generously despite the sacrifice it requires. As David said, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). Sacrificial giving demonstrates devotion to God before personal interests.
The Macedonians provide a great example of sacrificial and cheerful giving: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2).
Despite their own poverty, they pleaded earnestly for the grace and privilege of giving to the collection for the Jerusalem church. Their sacrificial giving brought joy as they saw it as an act of worship.
Give Proportionately
Proportionate giving relates to the size of the gift in proportion to what one has. The widow’s mites demonstrate this principle. Jesus honors her tiny gift, saying, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:3-4).
Her small gift was costly proportionally. Out of little, she gave much. Her heart displayed lavish sacrifice and love for God. Though the amount was tiny, proportionally it reflected profound devotion and therefore brought joy.
When it comes to our own giving, we should give in proportion to what we have. As Paul said, “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). God honors gifts proportional to what we have.
Give Expectantly
Cheerful givers can give expectantly, anticipating God’s blessing in response. As one common saying goes, “We cannot out give God.” When we give generously, we can trust Him to provide and pour out blessing in response.
The Bible says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). God promises bountiful blessing when we sow bountifully. We can give cheerfully when we give expectantly.
However, this promise does not mean giving to get something back. That motivation would be impure. We give simply out of love and gratitude. But as we give freely and generously, we can trust God to care for us in return. He “is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Give Thankfully
Cheerful givers give thankfully. A spirit of gratitude motivates our giving. Remembering God’s goodness makes us “abound in thanksgiving” which overflows in generosity (2 Corinthians 4:15). Thankfulness fuels cheerful giving.
Knowing that every good gift comes from above (James 1:17) fills us with gratitude. This prompts us to give back to God out of thanks. Recognizing that we only give a small portion of what already belongs to Him anyway grows thankfulness.
Cultivating a thankful heart every day – even for little blessings – nurtures a spirit of gratitude. As we regularly give thanks to God, cheerful giving flows out of a thankful heart. Our generosity blossoms in response to His generosity which we gratefully acknowledge.
Give Wholeheartedly
Cheerful giving springs from the heart. We are to give not “reluctantly or under compulsion” but voluntarily and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). God looks first at the willingness and eagerness of the giver more than just the amount.
We see this truth in the story of the widow’s mite. Her gift was tiny monetarily. But in God’s eyes, it was more precious than the large sums of the rich because it reflected her devotion. She gave wholeheartedly out of love.
When our hearts overflow with gratitude, giving becomes a joy. We can give wholeheartedly when our hearts have first been given wholly over to God. Pouring our lives out as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) facilitates wholehearted and cheerful giving.
Give as Worship
Giving becomes an act of worship when done cheerfully and generously as to God. The Macedonians pleaded for the “grace and fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:4). For them, giving to help others was a privilege and blessing.
The Philippians gave to support Paul as a fragrant offering, acceptable sacrifice to God (Philippians 4:18). Their gifts pleased God as acts of worship. Giving can glorify God when done with the right heart motivation.
Seeing our offerings as acts of worship transforms the way we give. It lifts giving from simply a duty to a delight. Our gifts demonstrate devotion and reflect the worth we place on Christ above all. We worship God through cheerful and generous giving.
Give in Faith
Cheerful givers trust in God’s care and provision. We do not give sparingly out of fear and lack of faith. As Paul told the Corinthians, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
God honors those who step out in faith and give generously, trusting Him to supply their needs in return. As an old saying goes: we cannot out give God. He promises to bless and multiply the gifts of those who give in dependence on Him.
The size of our gift relates directly to our faith in God’s ability and willingness to provide for us. We give cheerfully when we trust God and invest generously in His kingdom work.
Give as an Act of Love
Love should ultimately motivate our giving. Paul says, “If I give away all I have…but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Without love, even the largest gift means nothing.
When we give cheerfully, we give because we love God and others. Our gift demonstrates love for those in need, just as God showed love toward us. It also shows our love for God through supporting His work.
Giving to purely please God and bless others, not ourselves, reflects love. When we give simply out of love, cheerfulness naturally follows. For “God loves a cheerful giver” whose heart overflows with love (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Give Humbly
Cheerful givers give humbly, not for show or human praise. Jesus condemned the religious leaders who “sound a trumpet” and make a public display when giving to the needy (Matthew 6:2). Giving to be seen by others forfeits any reward from God.
As Jesus taught, we should give so secretly that even our left hand does not know what our right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3). A humble giver seeks only God’s approval, not men’s. The humble approach prevents pride and cultivates cheerfulness.
Doing good deeds “in secret” pleases God who sees what is done in secret (Matthew 6:4). The beauty of humble and cheerful giving is this: God still sees it and promises to reward it.
Examine Your Motives
Since God looks first at the heart, we should examine our motives in giving. Do we give grudgingly, reluctantly, proudly, for selfish reasons? Or do we give cheerfully, generously, thankfully, and purely to glorify God?
Paul encouraged the Corinthians to test their own attitudes: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The starting point is our heart motivation.
Testing our motives and attitudes allows us to detect and weed out anything that hinders cheerful giving – bitterness, selfishness, pride, fear of lack, etc. Examining our hearts helps align them to give as an act of worship and love which produces cheerfulness.
Remember Christ’s Example
If we want to become cheerful givers, we find no greater example than Jesus Christ. Though infinitely rich in heaven, he gave it all up and became poor to make us rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He held nothing back in giving Himself fully for us.
Think of Christ’s selfless sacrifice and love as you give. Let gratitude for His gift motivate your giving. Allow His generosity to inspire your generosity. Keeping the cross central fuels wholehearted giving.
Also, remember that Christ praised and honored the sacrificial gift of the widow. Though relatively tiny, her heart of devotion pleased Him. Remember that God sees the motives and love behind our gifts.
Pray for a Cheerful Heart
Since God loves and honors a cheerful giver, we should pray for a cheerful, generous heart. The Lord looks first at our willingness and joy in giving, more than just the amount.
Pray for God to fill you with joy and gratitude that overflows in giving. Ask Him to help you purpose and plan your gifts. Pray for faith to give generously and trust Him to meet your needs. Let your motivation be love for God and others.
Also, pray for ministry partners and recipients of your gifts. Seeing how God uses your giving to bless others cultivates cheerfulness. Praying toward God’s kingdom fuels joyful generosity.
Give Freely and Lavishly
To become more cheerful givers, we simply need to give more! As we practice generous giving, our hearts learn to take joy and delight in it. Our fears and selfishness fade as we experience God’s faithful provision.
Start by giving something small but significant as a step of faith. Watch how God blesses and multiplies it. Listen for His voice guiding you. As you take steps to give freely and lavishly, cheerfulness follows.
Determine a percentage of your income you will faithfully give. Gradually increase it over time. When you see the fruit and blessings from giving, gratitude and joy will grow. Generosity and cheerfulness feed one another.
Serve Others Generously
Not all giving involves money. We can practice cheerful giving of our time, talents, kindness, compassion. When we generously serve and bless others, our hearts learn cheerful giving.
Look for ways to share Christ’s love through simple acts of service. Prepare a meal for a sick neighbor. Visit someone lonely. Send an encouraging note. Watch their lives blessed through simple generosity.
The same principles apply. Give thankfully, freely, humbly, sacrificially. Before long, cheerfulness marks even small acts of service and generosity. Our lives overflow with giving.
Trust God
Undergirding all these practices must be deep trust in God. Ultimately, cheerful generosity springs from trusting God’s character and His promises. We give cheerfully when we really believe that God is good, generous, loving, faithful, our provider.
Meditating on God’s attributes stokes faith in His care. As we deepen our roots in His love and sovereignty, fears and selfishness lose their grip. Trusting God unleashes generosity. We give cheerfully as an expression of loving dependence on Him.
Cling tightly to promises like: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). God loves surprises His children who trust in Him enough to give cheerfully.
Conclusion
In summary, developing a spirit of cheerful giving begins in our hearts. As we grow in gratitude, faith, and love, our giving becomes generous and voluntary. It flows from hearts abandoned fully to God, trusting in His provision. Cheerful givers purpose and plan to give freely, thankfully, and sacrificially.
Cheerful giving blesses others, glorifies God, and brings joy to the giver. By God’s grace, we can become more cheerful givers. As we pour ourselves out generously, He fills and blesses us in return. Our lives overflow with cheerful and worshipful giving.