II Corinthians 9:6-7, "God loveth a cheerful giver."

There is a right spirit for which to give. God expects his people to give, but he also expects them to give from a willing and glad heart.

I. ONE SHOULD GIVE OUT OF A LOVE THAT MAKES HIM WANT TO GIVE.

A. The Bible places heavy stress on the fact that love ought to motivate giving.

1. In II Corinthians 5:14 Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us."

2. In all things, which would include giving, Paul said it should be done to God’s glory. "... Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," I Corinthians 10:31.

3. Old Testament Israel demonstrated how love will inspire us to give when they brought in freely and bountifully unto the Lord, (II Chronicles 31:5-12).

4. Notice how II Corinthians 9:7 puts it, "So let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: For God loveth a cheerful giver."

5. Paul praised the Macedonian Saints who gave bountifully, though in deep poverty, because of their love for the truth and God, (II Corinthians 8:1-5).

6. Those who do not give God His portion, do not love Him as they should, for He teaches giving and says, "If a man love me, he will keep my words," John 14:23.

B. Giving, even of the right amount, becomes vain if it is not done out of love:

1. Remember, no one is to give "grudgingly, or out of necessity," II Corinthians 9:7.

2. Paul said, "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing," I Corinthians 13:3.

3. Galatians 5:6 says that in Christ, nothing avails, except "Faith which worketh by love."

C. No believer should find it difficult to have love in his heart for the Lord. When His benefits are considered love should spring forth spontaneously.

1. He cares for us and gives us all that we have.

2. David asked, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" Psalm 116:12. He answered, "I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people," Psalm 116:14. It would seem that giving God His portion would be the least we would return unto the Lord for all his benefits to us.

II. GIVING SHOULD BE DONE IN THE SPIRIT THAT GOD IS NUMBER ONE: FIRST IN ONE’S LIFE.

A. He wants to be and ought to be first in your life.

1. He says to you, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," Exodus 20:3.

2. Our greatest responsibility is to put God first in our lives, (Matthew 22:36-38 and Deuteronomy 6:5).

B. If God is really first in our lives, He will then be put first in our finances:

1. Giving to someone is a good indicator of where that person really rates in our life. It was Jesus who said, "by their fruits ye shall know them," Matthew 7:20.

2. By right giving, a man is really saying, "God is first with me."

C. If He really is first with us, then His part will be given first.

1. Men whose hearts are right with God give the firstlings of all they have to Him (Nehemeiah 10:35-37).

2. Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase."

3. God knows He is not first in a man’s heart when that man takes care of everything else first, then later "drags up" with God’s part, (Amos 4:4-5).

4. God also knows He is not first when a man gives "leftovers", (Malachi 1:6-14).

5. God wants the best that we have to be given first.

A. The Lord despises stinginess and a miser’s spirit.

1. Proverbs 11:24 reads, "There is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."

2. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to say, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows," I Timothy 6:10.

3. Remember II Corinthians 9:7.

B. God loves generosity and bountifulness.

1. II Corinthians 9:6-7 say, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully, for God loveth a cheerful giver."

2. Paul rejoiced in the Macedonians’ generosity. (II Corinthians 8:1-5).

C. Regardless of how bountifully and generously you give to God, you always get far more in return than you give. Listen to proofs in God’s Word:

1. Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over (note the generosity), shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

2. Proverbs 11:24-25, "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth;... The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself."

3. Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

4. Proverbs 3:9-1l, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase, so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

D. It should be noted in this connection that an offering cannot be given until after the tithe has been paid.

1. Anything under ten percent is not an offering, it is a portion of the tithe, which is already owed to God.

2. Offerings are seen throughout the Bible. They are not the same as the tithe; nor a substitute for .

3. Right giving honors and worships God and every child of God should give God His rightful portion.