Three quotes that lay the foundation for this teaching are: “Cheerfulness is one evidence we have attached faith to our decisions, responsibilities, assignments, and commitments.”“Faithfulness is not just showing up, it is how you think when you show up.”
“Instead of waiting to do something great, attach great faith to what you are doing now and it will become great.”
2 Corinthians 9 is a strong chapter about the attitudes and benefits of financial giving. It reveals well known but nevertheless incredible promises.
We will: Reap generously if we sow generously
Experience all-sufficiency
Be enriched in every way to be generous in every way
Be fully convinced: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Let’s break this verse down phrase by phrase:
Each one – Each person is free to decide what they do and do not do. Although the Bible does give clear direction on many issues, there are also issues not clear-cut that we must decide on. In these cases, we must respect the decision-making and choices of others that are different from our own.
Must give as he has decided in his heart – Again, we get to decide how much to give in finances, time, energy, and relationships. This is an incredible revelation as we move from a slave mentality to a son & daughter mentality. Slaves are always waiting for a command from God or from others to know what to do, but sons & daughters are given increasing authority to decide for themselves through good decision-making processes. Our good Father models excellent decision-making for us and then gives us room to try for ourselves.
Not reluctantly or under compulsion – If we have either one of these attitudes towards what we give ourselves to, they reveal one of two problems – we are either doing the wrong thing or we are doing the right thing with the wrong beliefs.
For God loves a cheerful giver – The Greek word for cheerful is “hilaros”, from which we get our word hilarious (boisterous merriment). Cheerfulness is evidence we have attached faith to our decisions. God loves a cheerful giver because that kind of person gives from their heart in faith. As they give, they think, “This is exciting. I have decided to do this. This is going to have a huge positive impact on me and others.”
Again, the principles of 2 Corinthians 9:7 are applicable far beyond finances, and we can rightly conclude that God loves a cheerful decider. A chronic lack of cheerfulness in our disciplines, decisions, schedules, or responsibilities is almost always a sign we have decided out of obligation instead of faith. When we recognize we are not cheerful concerning our choices, then it is a sign we have a decision to make.
- Clarify your options and decide what you are to do – This is a key to living in faith. What we need to do is get a good process for decision-making and then decide what to do.
- Speak life over your commitments – “My meetings today are going to be powerful,” or “God is going to show up in my family tonight when I get home,” or “This coffee date with my friend will cause a breakthrough for both of us.” One of the greatest ways to attach faith to what we are doing, and who we are, is to make faith declarations.
- Press into your beliefs until cheerfulness manifests consistently regarding the choices you have made – This may take a while, but the journey is incredible as we go deeper in defeating the lies that create a lack of cheerfulness in giving our time, finances, passion, and energy.
God loves a cheerful decider because it is a significant sign of spiritual maturity. Our Heavenly Father, as with any parent, loves it when His kids move from indecision to confidence in what they decide to do. 2 Corinthians 9:7 is a great verse to meditate on for the one who desires to be fully convinced. When we add the truths of Romans 14 to it, we gain even more understanding of the importance of attaching faith to what we decide to do.
[adapted from a blog by Steve Backlund Igniting Hope Ministries 29.08.22]