A Cheerful (Digital?) Giver
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
It feels like giving has changed. I fondly remember sitting at the kitchen table with my Dad on Sunday mornings when he would write our family’s offering check. He’d then put it in an envelope, writing down how much would go to the general, building, and benevolence funds. He and my mom would give me, my brother, and sister $0.50 for the Sunday School offering.
During church, the deacons would pass the felt lined offering plates, and sometimes Dad would let me put the envelope in. The coins would go into a little globe bank at Sunday School. Leaving church, I knew that we were givers. It was a value my parents purposefully passed down to us.
In our post-COVID world, giving is much more subtle. We have donation boxes at the back of the sanctuary. Many people use our online giving option. A few have checks mailed to the church office.
The point isn’t our method of giving; it’s our manner of giving. God cares about our attitude. The point is to give bountifully with a cheerful heart. That’s even possible online or with donation boxes.
A few ways you can build this habit in your own heart and in your family’s life are:
Model generosity. Children are more likely to learn from what they see than from what they hear, so it's important for parents to model generosity in their own lives. This could involve donating to charity, volunteering their time, or simply being kind and helpful to others.
Talk about generosity. Talk to your kids about the importance of generosity and why it's important to give back to others. Explain how generosity can make a difference in the world and how it can make them feel good about themselves.
Provide opportunities for generosity. Give your kids opportunities to practice generosity in their own lives. This could involve allowing them to donate their allowance to charity, helping them volunteer their time, or simply encouraging them to be kind and helpful to others.
Make generosity fun. Make generosity a fun and rewarding experience for your kids. This could involve playing games, doing activities together, or simply spending time together as a family.
Celebrate generosity. When your kids are generous, be sure to celebrate their accomplishments. This will help them to understand that generosity is valued and appreciated.
The Lord loves a cheerful giver. Even online, we can develop hearts that delights in sharing God’s wealth with other.
With You;
Pastor Tim
