Cheerful Givers
Can I talk to you about the importance of giving? Here at LCC we work really hard to never be coercive in any way; to never use manipulation or guilt to beat people over the head. But as we talked about last week in the “Faith in Real Life” series, selfishness can be a real problem for all of us. Generosity helps to break the stranglehold that money can cause. That is why generosity is so important.
1. Generosity breaks the lie of greed that says the more I have the happier I will be and the poverty spirit that equates money with security.
Luke 12:15 (NIV84) Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
2. Generosity aligns my heart with God, who has the most generous heart of all, and helps us to seek first the kingdom of God, putting God first in my life. For me it requires a plan. I know that the automatic giving through the app can be kind of impersonal. But it helps me, because otherwise I might forget! And I get to time it where it is one of the first things that comes out of my check.
3. Generosity gives me joy.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV84) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Hey grumpy pants, God doesn’t need your money or mine but He DOES love a cheerful giver. God doesn’t love you any more because you give, but joy in God opens you up to receive His love in it’s fullest.
I love you, even the grumpy ones. Pastor Randy