Because You Want To

“Each one must give as he decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7 
 
When it comes to giving, it is not about how much you give. Instead, it is about the heart in which you give. Yesterday, we talked about takers, matchers, and givers. Takers seek to personally gain from a relationship and matchers give only if they receive something in return. Neither of these is Biblical. God has called us to give. And when we give, we should do so without expectation. He doesn’t want us to give because we must, but because we want to, and that’s what we are called to do.
 
Mark 12:41-44 highlights the widow’s offering, “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.”

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
 
2 Corinthians 9:7 also tells us, “Each one must give as he decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

When we give, it should not just be because of guilt or obligation. And when you give, do not be like the matcher who keeps receipts. It’s not about getting back the same thing you gave in return.
 
It’s about giving without any expectation. That is what Jesus did, and that is what He has called us to do. Give, but not because you must. Instead, give because you want to!