“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)
Our God loves a generous heart and a cheerful giver – prizing not the size of the gift rather the heart attitude of the one who gives. To be sure, the widow giving her all with two very small copper coins, drew the favorable attention of our Lord Jesus. It is not the size of the gift that God particularly takes note of as much as the generous condition (or lack of generosity) of the heart of the giver. God needs nothing and He can supply us with every need. Albeit, He most often accomplishes this task by using His saints to do His bidding. Further, this brings them much joy. One never outgives God either and He takes great delight in seeing wholehearted generosity in the lives of the saints. To be sure, our gifts are often given to us, but not completely for us. Further, He does not desire for His children to be hoarders or miserly either. Do we give mechanically sans heart and out of plenty? Or do we give begrudgingly because we feel forced to do so? It does us well to remember that the motive behind our giving is more important to the Lord Jesus than the gift itself. Who is the rightful Owner of all things.
Formalized giving - sans heart - is nauseating to God Who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” Indeed, all is His – everything belongs to Him and He stands with no need whatsoever. Further, what do we have that we did not receive? And if we did receive it, how on earth could we boast or hoard or be prideful or excessive? To be sure, to whom much has been given, much is expected. Scripture tells us in Luke 12:48 (NIV): “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
God does not take our giftings lightly either. They are used to both bring Him glory and us much good. Everything comes from God’s Hand and our giving is to be but a natural reflex of His grace. Freely we have received and freely we are to give.
Scripture tells us in Psalms 50:8-12 (NIV): “I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” Tim Keller writes: “A lack of generosity refuses to acknowledge that your assets are not really yours, but God’s.”
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.** 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NIV)**