Title: Cheerfulness Or Obligation?
Memorize: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 (Nkjv)
[1] Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the Lord God.
[2] Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance.
[3] Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:
[4] three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses;
[5] the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?”
[6] Then the leaders of the fathers’ houses, leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king’s work, offered willingly.
[7] They gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
[8] And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
[9] Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
Message:
God desires that our giving should be pan act of joy rather than a burdensome duty.
Generosity should flow from a heart that is willing and cheerful, not from a sense of compulsion or external pressure.
In today’s Bible reading, we see how the Israelites gave willingly towards the construction of God’s temple.
They gave from a loyal heart with joy and rejoiced in the name of the Lord.
Cheerful giving is not measured by the amount or quantity of what was given, but by the sincerity and joy behind it.
Jesus highlighted this truth when He commended the widow who gave two mites (small copper coins with little value).
Although her offering was of little value, it was priceless in God’s sight because she gave wholeheartedly (Luke 21:2-3).
This shows that the attitude behind your giving matters more than the size of your gift.
To develop a heart of cheerful giving, you need to realise that giving is a privilege and not an obligation.
This will make you seek opportunities to be a blessing to others by giving your time, resources, talents, and more.
When you give with joy and trust in God’s purpose, your gift becomes a source of blessings to you and the receiver.
Action Point:
Identify someone in your school or church who needs a particular item within your reach and provide it.
HYMN 19: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE
1 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice!
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!
2 What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail,
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.
3 Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.
4 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Acclaim him with trumpet and voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong.
Bible In One Year: Matthew 23:23-39, Exodus 37-38
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye