Greg Laurie Daily Devotion - May 12, 2008

Monday, May 12, 2008

Giving Cheerfully 

“Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.  For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.”  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

I don’t know about you, but when Christmas rolls around, it seems as if there is always someone for whom I feel obligated to buy a gift.  Although I don’t really enjoy the process, I do it out of duty.  On the other hand, it is exciting to buy a gift for someone you really love, isn’t it?  You look forward to it.

This is how God wants us to give to Him—not out of duty that says, “Oh, I had better give to God and help Him out.”  Or, “I guess I should help in the Sunday School.  After all, God needs my help with those kids.”  Or, “I ought to go tell someone about Jesus, because God needs my help in getting the gospel out.”

If this is how we feel, then we should keep our money, our time, and our service, because God doesn’t want them.  Our hearts and our attitudes matter more to Him than our “gifts.”

If you give your money, time, or anything out of duty, constraint, or an expectation of receiving something in return, then your motive is wrong and it won’t count for anything before God. 

Your heart needs to be right first.  Giving is a voluntary action.  You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.

Maybe you feel as though you don’t have much to offer.  God can do a lot with a little.  Just take what you have, present it to Him, and say, “Lord, it isn’t much, but here it is.  It’s yours.” 

Then watch what God can do and how He can bless the life that has been dedicated to Him with a willing heart.

Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries.  All rights reserved.  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved. 

For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to  www.harvest.org.