Last week in my sermon on 2 Corinthians 9 (here), I ran out of time. I wanted to share with you what I cut out of the sermon to spare you a one hour message. The point of the sermon was

“God Loves a Cheerful Giver.” 

In Matthew 13, Jesus told a parable that explains why true giving is joyful. The quote below these verses comes from my friend and a mentor, Dr. Eric Mason, explaining why we can give with joy.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (- Jesus)

Matthew 13:44-46

"What is Jesus talking about? He says, the kingdom is so valuable that when you come across the kingdom, it's worth everything you have.

The kingdom is God's comprehensive rule over all creation. 

The way God develops the kingdom is he saves people, gives them kingdom resources, and nurtures their hearts based on spiritual growth. With that spiritual growth and with those resources, God changes their hearts' disposition.

How much they value the kingdom causes them to say, "I want to participate." 

There are things God won't do until God's people release resources. There are things God just will not do because we are the mechanism through which his sovereignty moves in order for us to respond to the call of ministry or whatever we're called to do."

- Dr. Eric Mason

Founder and Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA

This last quote that I cut from my

sermon on Sunday is from the

great reformer and teacher,

John Calvin (1509-1564 AD)

on why giving is a joy:

"Because Paul has commanded that they should give liberally, this also needed to be added:

that generosity is judged by God not so much from the amount given, as from the disposition of the heart. 

It is true that he wanted to induce them to give a lot, so that the brothers might be more abundantly helped; but he had no desire to extort anything from them against their will. Therefore, he commands them to give willingly whatever they should be able to give...

"[For God loves] a cheerful giver..." 

Paul calls us back to God, as I said earlier, for alms are a sacrifice. Now, no sacrifice is pleasing to God unless it is given voluntarily. For when Paul teaches that "God loves a cheerful giver," he indicates (on the other hand) that those who are stingy and hypocritical are rejected by him.

For God does not wish to lord it over us in the manner of a tyrant, but as he acts toward us like a father, so he requires from us the generous obedience of children.

- John Calvin

Homework:

Take a minute with God to talk about your money and giving. Next time you give, pray about giving with joy because the cause is the greatest one in the world!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey