Being a Truly Cheerful Giver
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sown bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give what he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Christmas stresses me out. I’m not talking about the actual celebration of the birth of Jesus; I’m talking about the Americanized, consumeristic holiday with the Coca-Cola Santa as its mascot. I really hate compulsory giving. I hate the idea of people spending money they don’t have to buy things for people that they don’t actually need (or sometimes even want) to meet a social standard that American culture had deemed appropriate. This year I’ve made a vow to myself to give fewer, better, prayed-over and well-thought-out gifts.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes about giving generously and cheerfully. As you sit and reflect on this Christmas gift-giving season, are you giving generously and cheerfully? Or are you giving reluctantly and sparingly? Are the gifts you are giving enhancing your celebration of the greatest gift God has ever given the world? Do they help focus your intentions on imitating God in being a good gift giver? Or are these gifts given compulsory and reluctantly? Don’t base this on how much you have to spend financially or the time you have allotted to it. Base this on the motive of your heart and if the process of giving cultivates a love of God and his greatest gift.
If you’re sitting in your chair right now wondering how to take back the holiday from the Coca-Cola Santa (don’t hear me saying Santa is inherently bad) think about the real St. Nicholas and his secret gift giving. He gave to others out of love for them and wanted to care for them. His gifts didn’t put a strain on him financially or relationally. He lived a lifestyle of giving. He didn’t go all out for one night and then have to pay creditors back all year long for his excess. He lived a generous lifestyle as a joyful giver. He gave small tokens of his love that people needed or wanted with no expectations.
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
