Are You Cheerful?

~~~ Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr ~~~

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ John 12:24-26 ~~~

God loves a cheerful giver.

We hear this so often that it has almost become a cliche.

This verse is used to try to convince people

 to give more money to the church,

or to some fund raiser.

There seems to always be someone who wants your money,

 so why should you be cheerful?

Let's consider what gift you have been given

 that you appreciate the most.

Was it the gift you appreciated the most or was it the giver?

Was it the act of the giver...their generosity?

A gift to be truly a gift must be freely given.

God gave us the greatest gift in Jesus.

Every other gift pales in comparison.

God is able to make every grace abundant for you,

so that in all things, always having all you need,

you may have an abundance for every good work.

If God gives everything we need there

 is no need to save it for later.

There is so much we can give that does not involve money.

The cheerful giver gives of himself or herself.

Each has something to give...

The description of the 'cheerful' giver 

is referring to their state of mind.

Some give without ever considering it to be in a cheerful manner.

Some give for the personal recognition...for selfish reasons.

The cheerful giver is one who gives for the sake of the other.

It is not out of obligation that we give;

but rather out of love for what has been given to us.

To become a cheerful giver you must begin at home.

How are you a cheerful giver with your family?

How you treat your family will ultimately translate

 into how cheerful a giver you are to others.

If you have no cheer in your heart

 it is unlikely that you can be a cheerful giver.

Today I invite you to find a way to be cheerful 

as you go about your daily tasks.

We must practice having a cheerful mindset.

Becoming a cheerful giver is possible.

A cheerful giver gives from the heart.

A cheerful giver does not give to be applauded.

A cheerful giver does not give out of guilt.

A cheerful giver gives 

because God first gave freely to us.

You have been given the grace to be a cheerful giver.

You have been cheerfully Blessed by God.

~~~Peace~~~

The Triple Crown of Christian Life

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ~~~

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...

the trifecta of the Christian life.

Prayer acknowledging that there is a God who cares and listens to us.

Fasting a means to become better focused on listening to the voice of God.

Almsgiving a generous way to give from our personal abundance.

 

These three have been valued throughout all times across varied cultures.

 

The readings today spotlight almsgiving.

There is even a touch of what we might consider cliché verbiage...

God loves a cheerful giver.

 

I had a close relative who was very generous with his money,

 but there were always strings attached.

I will give you this; if you promise to do such and such.

Somehow these little strings placed a damper over the gift.

It sometimes made me wonder if it really was a gift...or just bribery in disguise.

At times I felt like I did not want to accept the gift

because of the accompanying stipulations.

 

I think God has a very different idea when it comes to our almsgiving.

He instead ties it to farming.

Gift giving is like planting seeds which will bear fruit in the future.

One does not sow a seed only if it will produce the most perfect fruit.

Instead we sow many seeds knowing that some will not bear fruit...

some will never even take root, but still they are planted.

 

God is able to make every grace abundant for you...

 

Jesus gives us direct guidelines on these three pillars of a holy life.

 

Almsgiving...

But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Prayer...

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Fasting...

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

 

These three actions have one very obvious thing in common;

they should all take place in secret.

We are not to broadcast what we are doing.

 

Drawing attention to ourselves for what we are doing detracts

from the purpose God had in mind.

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are best undertaken in privacy.

There is no benefit from boasting about how much you have given to the poor.

There is no benefit in proclaiming your denial through fasting.

There is no benefit is broadcasting how much time you spend in prayer each day.

 

If we are blessed with riches then they should

cause us to give thanks for the generosity of God.  

All that we have has come to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ...

from whom all good things come.

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...the triple crown of Christian life.

Each one holds its unique blessings.