The Happy Giver

When we understand the notion and the implication of God being the source of our sufficiency, we will get rid of our scarcity mentality. We have a scarcity mentality, when we feel pressured or obligated to give away part of our cherished resources when we are hesitant or reluctant to share when we feel we are giving too much, or we need to cut back on our giving. Our giving must be out of our volition and with a cheerful disposition to meet a need, not to gratify people's greed, indulge irresponsibility, or save face.

The pressured giver is a sad giver. God is interested in happy givers. The happy giver (not grudging or disinclined) is enthusiastic about meeting needs, touching lives, and putting smiles on faces. The happy giver gives intentionally and purposefully. He can't be blackmailed or patronized into giving. She gives not to make an impression of being generous. She is generous, that's why she gives.

[For] the noble devises noble things, and he will continue in noble things (Ish 32:8). It takes a generous soul to do generous things. Generosity is generic to the happy giver. He's not putting up a facade or showing off. It just flows.

So, what are the bases for the happy giver's generosity?

1. Principle: He understands the principle of sowing and reaping. "Remember this:...whoever sows generously will also reap generously"
(2 Cor 9:6). While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest...shall not cease (Gen 8:22).

2. Purpose: He understands his role as a vessel of providence (good works) in fulfilling God's purpose of care for the Church and humanity (2 Cor 9:8).

3. Promise: She understands and trusts God's promise, as the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat, and similarly convinced He will provide and increase her resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in her (2 Cor 9:10; Ps 112:9).