March 14
The Joy
of 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.
Daily Steps
Practical love and service require giving, but the source of the peace in giving is found in how you give. For a new believer, this verse teaches that the peace in service is directly linked to the attitude of your heart: God loves a cheerful giver.
The peace in giving comes from two key decisions:
Decide in Your Heart: Giving should not be a panicked, last-minute decision, but something you have decided in your heart to give. This preparation and intentionality take the anxiety out of the act.
Give Cheerfully: Reject giving "reluctantly or under compulsion." Compulsive giving undermines the peace of the relationship (both with God and the recipient). The word for "cheerful" in Greek is hilaros, from which we get the word "hilarious." When you give joyfully, you are acting with generosity and humor, not grudging obligation.
Your peace is not measured by the amount you give, but by the cheerfulness with which you offer your resources, time, or energy. This attitude transforms an obligation into an act of worship and a foundation for genuine love.
Reflective Question
When you last served or gave, was it done with a cheerful heart or reluctantly? How can you intentionally choose joy and thankfulness today when you offer your time or resources to someone in your community?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible abundance You have given me. I confess the times I have given reluctantly. I pray for a heart of true generosity.
Help me to decide in my heart to give, and to do so with cheerfulness, knowing that You bless the cheerful giver. May the joy of service secure my peace today. Amen.
