The Importance of Attitude in Giving

Attitude is really important in most aspects of life. When you ask someone to do a favor for you they can do it but if they do it with a negative attitude it just doesn’t feel the same. If they say, “Sure, I’ll do it” but they roll their eyes; that’s very different than saying “Sure, I’ll do it” with a smile on their faces. We all know that attitude is important. It can even rob or steal the joy from those who are receiving the gift or the favor. The principle of the importance of attitude also applies to giving to God. Here in 2 Corinthians 9 we learn about this idea. In both chapters 8 and 9 Paul is talking to the Corinthians about giving, raising funds to help the Jesus followers in Jerusalem who were suffering. In verse 7 Paul writes this: 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. God says that we should not give grudgingly or of necessity but rather with a cheerful attitude. If you have to have the check pried out of your hands, you should just hold onto it.

This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. Does God need my money? No, at least not if God is anything like He is revealed in the Bible. God is sovereign, eternal and all powerful. He isn’t “cash-strapped” and His credit score is irrelevant. He doesn’t need me to give my money. Rather, I need to give my money. When I recognize all that God has done for me and when I find a church and/or ministry that is fulfilling the purposes of the kingdom of God, I should cheerfully and gladly give my money…not grudgingly or because I “have to” but rather willingly and because I “want to”. It’s important to give in a sacrificial way but it is also important to give with a cheerful heart. If you don’t have cheerful, sacrificial giving, please ask yourself, “why?” and then pay attention to the answer.