October 13, 2005

Three Kinds of Giving

 

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 1 Corinthians 9:7

 

There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving.

 

Grudge giving says, "I have to."
Duty giving says, "I ought to."
Thanksgiving says, "I want to."

 

The first one comes from constraint; the second from a sense of obligation; the third from a full heart.

 

Nothing much is conveyed in grudge giving since the gift without the giver is bare. Something more happens in duty giving, but there is no song in it. Thanksgiving is an open gate to the love of God. It is the "Amen" of giving.

 

Always remember – that in giving we are not really giving something we own since God is the owner of it all already, we are simply being Christian Managers of that which God entrusts to us!

 

Prayer
Let our greatest joy come from the magic moments when we freely give of all that you have entrusted to us.  Give us the one thing necessary to be complete - a grateful heart. Amen.

 

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