...Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I FORGOT to do last week's...lame. but i remembered this week thanks to hannah's reminder!! anyways this caused me to think how this verse can be applied to serving, because of all the new things that we're planning for colluni this coming school year!! so how does this apply to serving???
that's pretty cool - i was thinking the same thing! i guess after you've been in church for a while, you start to equate "God loves a cheerful giver" as only relating to finances alone. but as i read it today, i found myself wondering what it means to sow bountifully (as in the ESV) or cheerfully give of our time and energy - in relationships, in serving.
^I know, it took me a while to stop thinking about the verse as tithing!
The verse sounds like both a promise and a call: we will reap generously if we sow generously, but only if we do so intentionally and cheerfully.
Meditating on this passage this week, I'm challenged to have not just a cheerful mood, but a cheerful attitude. What stops me from always being cheerful/generous in serving is fear that I could just be resting or preserving my energy, like Alison was talking about on Tuesday. Looking forward to memorizing next week's verse which addresses that, and is only the next verse after hahaha.
hey guys (this comment is kinda late), similarly, i was also reminded of tithing when i first read this verse, but when reflecting more about it... i think for me, God is teaching me in this verse, to be cheerful when loving people around me (ie. spending time to help friends move in, or spend time cooking for first years in fellowship, etc).
many times i know i struggle with giving my time and energy cheerfully. often, i like the IDEA of seeing myself help others (out of pride), but yet i am not always fully willing to give up my own time... and so when i do help people, i do it grudgingly...
"God loves a cheerful giver" - which means he does not/ despises a person who gives out of pride, reluctance, etc...
i will be praying for all of you! :) and hoping you can pray for me as well :)
I FORGOT to do last week's...lame. but i remembered this week thanks to hannah's reminder!! anyways this caused me to think how this verse can be applied to serving, because of all the new things that we're planning for colluni this coming school year!! so how does this apply to serving???
ReplyDeletethat's pretty cool - i was thinking the same thing!
ReplyDeletei guess after you've been in church for a while, you start to equate "God loves a cheerful giver" as only relating to finances alone. but as i read it today, i found myself wondering what it means to sow bountifully (as in the ESV) or cheerfully give of our time and energy - in relationships, in serving.
i'd love to hear all of your thoughts. :P
^I know, it took me a while to stop thinking about the verse as tithing!
ReplyDeleteThe verse sounds like both a promise and a call: we will reap generously if we sow generously, but only if we do so intentionally and cheerfully.
Meditating on this passage this week, I'm challenged to have not just a cheerful mood, but a cheerful attitude. What stops me from always being cheerful/generous in serving is fear that I could just be resting or preserving my energy, like Alison was talking about on Tuesday. Looking forward to memorizing next week's verse which addresses that, and is only the next verse after hahaha.
hey guys (this comment is kinda late), similarly, i was also reminded of tithing when i first read this verse, but when reflecting more about it... i think for me, God is teaching me in this verse, to be cheerful when loving people around me (ie. spending time to help friends move in, or spend time cooking for first years in fellowship, etc).
ReplyDeletemany times i know i struggle with giving my time and energy cheerfully. often, i like the IDEA of seeing myself help others (out of pride), but yet i am not always fully willing to give up my own time... and so when i do help people, i do it grudgingly...
"God loves a cheerful giver" - which means he does not/ despises a person who gives out of pride, reluctance, etc...
i will be praying for all of you! :) and hoping you can pray for me as well :)
woops i mean "he does not like/ despises..."
ReplyDelete