God Loves Cheerful Givers
According to Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen, there are four kinds of giving in the Bible; tithes, offerings, first fruits, and almsgiving. While tithes are ten percent of your income (Malachi 3:10), offerings are what you want to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). First fruits come from new blessings that one receives (Proverbs 3:9) and almsgiving (Matthew 6:3-4) are for mankind such as giving to the less fortunate in food, clothes, cash, or volunteering in shelters. While tithes, offerings, first fruits are to God, almsgiving are for mankind.
My youngest daughter shared a blessing that she received when she got unexpected money. She used that and her personal money and gave it to a relative in need. Less than 24 hours later, she was pleasantly surprised when she received ten times what she had originally received. 2 Corinthians 9:7 states, “…God loves a cheerful giver.”
When we see famine, disease, and suffering throughout the land, we should remember that God is not trying to guilt anyone into helping others. However, when we give with the right motives, which is that one simply desires to help, He looks upon one’s heart. Let God lead you in your giving. He can bless you in so many ways.
Malachi 3:10
New International Version
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
New International Version
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Proverbs 3:9
New International Version
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops
Matthew 6:3-4
King James Version
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
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