“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
The Treasure
Paul names the actual manner of giving as significant as the amount given, not grudgingly, or of necessity, but cheerfully, purposed in the heart rather than extracted through pressure or obligation. This second movement, turning from the priorities of the first toward active sowing, opens with this crucial qualifier before any specific instruction about amounts.
Notice according as he purposeth in his heart. This assumes genuine, deliberate intention behind giving, not merely reactive, guilt-driven response to a compelling appeal in the moment, but settled, purposeful decision made beforehand, the kind that can genuinely be cheerful rather than grudging when the moment of actual giving arrives.
This is worth examining against however much your own giving has become grudging or reluctant, technically generous in amount while genuinely resentful in spirit, missing the cheerful giver this verse specifically names as what God actually loves, not merely the generous transaction itself, but the heart’s genuine posture behind it.
Consider today whether your own giving carries genuine cheerfulness, purposed deliberately, or whether it has become grudging obligation, technically correct but missing what this verse actually describes as significant. Purpose in your heart today, deliberately, what and how you will give, aiming for the cheerfulness God specifically loves.
Steward the Treasure
- Examine honestly whether your own giving is cheerful or grudging in its actual spirit.
- Purpose in your heart today, deliberately, before the actual moment of giving arrives.
- Give one specific gift today with genuine cheerfulness, not mere obligation.
Prayer
Lord, let my giving be cheerful, purposed deliberately in my heart, not grudging or extracted by pressure. Let me become the cheerful giver you actually love. Amen.
Carry this today
God loves a cheerful giver, not merely a generous transaction.