Giving With the Right Attitude

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of ^[c]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

(NKJV)

 

The topic of giving in the Church is one many ministers avoid out of fear the congregation will believe he is trying to collect contributions to the Church to line his own pockets. While this may not be the case, some in the church may have experienced having their money grudgingly taken from them through Coercion, fear tactics, or guilt. In this post, we will address what it means to be a cheerful giver giving with thanksgiving out of a love for Christ.

 

Paul begins this text by reminding the Corinthians of the law of sowing and reaping, something people living in an agrarian society would have understood (2 Corinthians 9:6). However, a giver who gives cheerfully from the goodness of his or her heart and not grudgingly or out of necessity pleases God (2 Corinthians 9:7). Giving with this attitude ensures the giver’s needs are met and that he or she has an abundance to give to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). It will be said of one giving with this attitude that he gave abroad, to the poor, and that his righteousness will endure forever (2 Corinthians 9:9).

 

Paul then asks that God, the supplier of seed for the sower and bread for food, multiply the seed sown and increase the fruits of righteousness in the hearts of the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 9:10). The enrichment of God that comes through liberal giving should cause thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11). The administration of this gift from the Corinthians not only supplies the needs of the one receiving the gift but abounds in many thanksgivings to God (2 Corinthians 9:12). The liberal gift shared by the Corinthians also brings glory to God as a confession to the Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 9:13). Along with giving, the Corinthians pray for the recipients of the gift because of God’s exceeding grace (2 Corinthians 9:14). Paul ends the text by thanking God for the gift (2 Corinthians 9:15).

 

Paul wants to ensure those giving are doing so with the right attitude. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul urges the Corinthians to give as they purpose in their hearts and not grudgingly out of duty to the Church or necessity or something done to avoid guilt. Instead giving should produce thanksgiving to God as the needs of the saints are met (2 Corinthians 9:12). God gave us his gift of salvation with exceeding grace and wants us to give to him with the same level of grace and gladness.

 

Give as God moves upon our hearts and not out of fear, guilt, or coercion. Unfortunately, the lukewarm, consumeristic, and compromising Church today often resorts to these tactics to raise larger contributions.

 

1. Coercion in the lukewarm Church – In Revelation 3:14-22, the Bible introduces us to the lukewarm Church of Laodicea. The attitude of this Church was a belief they did not need anything due to their riches and wealth (Revelation 3:17). There are Churches in existence today that support a prosperity gospel teaching that anyone having faith in Jesus Christ will become rich by giving to the Church using scriptures like Luke 6:38 as a foundation. This scripture is taken out of context for the verse preceding it speaks of passing judgment, so the giving spoken of is not money but judgment (Luke 6:37). While Scripture does not tell us if the Laodicean church supported a similar prosperity gospel but a needy person coming to the Laodicean church might have felt coerced to give to become wealthy like those in the Church. Also, a church trusting in its wealth and riches would not have wanted a needy person in its congregation unless they became a contributor.
2. Fear in the Consumerist Church – A consumerist church is a church that functions as a business and speaks of its focus on Christ and the Bible but has a business-like focus on fundraising and programs that focus on meeting the needs of congregants seeing them as consumers. Fundraising in these churches can resort to fear tactics that cause people to give out of fear of losing a program that makes them feel good or fear the church will need to close its doors for lack of money.
3. Guilt in the compromising Church – A consumerist church can become a compromising church that fears taking a stand on an ungodly issue like abortion, gay marriage, or transgenderism fearing loss of membership by offending someone. The problem with this compromising strategy is it offends true believers who worship the Lord in Spirit and truth (John 4:24) who are probably the core financial support of the church. The mission of the Church is not entertaining congregants like customers of a business but spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20), for which there is no compromise. The guilt in the compromising Church in regards to giving is in not supporting preaching against sin that may alienate people from joining and contributing to the Church.

 

If you are reading this post and have been alienated from the Church and Christ by coercion, fear, or guilt to contribute to the Church, I urge you to pray for the forgiveness of sin and to make Jesus your savior. I do not want or need your money and am only interested in sharing the truth of God’s Word and for you to Make Jesus your savior so you can spend eternity with Jesus. I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.