God Loves A Cheerful Giver
The well-known hymn, All The Way My Savior Leads Me, was written in 1874 by a woman named Fanny Crosby (Then Sings My Soul; Pg. 197). When Fanny was just six weeks old, she became blind. Her parents noticed that there was an infection in her eyes and they relied upon a man who claimed to be a physician to draw the infection out of her eyes. The man placed a hot poultice on her eyes, which left white scars and caused permanent damage. She was blind for the rest of her life, but she realized that the Lord could use her, despite her disability. She became the author of many beloved hymns. All The Way My Savior Leads Me was prompted by a specific event that happened in 1874. She realized that she didn’t have enough money to pay her rent and decided to bring her worries before the Lord. As she finished talking to the Lord about her situation, she heard a knock on the door, she opened it, and the person standing on the other side of the door gave her a ten-dollar bill. It was exactly the amount that she needed. That night, Fanny began to write:
“All the way my Savior leads me–
What have I to ask besides?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.”
Give Sacrificially
One person with a giving heart changed Crosby`s life and the Lord used her thankful heart to write a hymn that many still enjoy and sing today. Our lives should be characterized by giving: giving of our time, talent, and treasure in service of the Lord who is worthy. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Investing in others comes at a cost to us, but it is a privilege to give our lives in service of the King. When we give what we have, we are giving what already belongs to Him. As believers, we should give sacrificially, willfully, and cheerfully because it reflects our heavenly Father`s gracious character. James Baker teaches several of our classes here at Ethnos360 Bible Institute and comments on the topic of giving, saying, “It is really a privilege to be able to give our lives in service to the Lord Jesus who gave all for us.”
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” -Matthew 20:28.
God gets the glory when we give and help meet the needs of others because we are seen as lights shining in a dark world (Matt. 5.16). How much more should we be willing to serve and meet others’ needs when we realize that God has met our greatest need by giving us His only Son, Jesus (2 Cor. 9.12-15)? We reflect the character of our heavenly Father when we give because Christ gave His life for us.
“In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”– Acts 20.35.
Give Willfully
As believers, we should give out of love for the Lord. I often must examine my heart before I give. I want to make sure that I am giving, not to make myself look good, but because I love the Lord and I desire to make Him look good. My heart should be to give because I have experienced the grace and mercy of God; He has given me the greatest gift. Jesus says in Matthew 6.1-3, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Give Cheerfully
I know that every good and perfect gift comes from His hand, so everything that I have belongs to the Lord. Anything that I give already belongs to Him. Therefore, I should give with joy knowing that I get to imitate the character of my heavenly Father because He is a generous giver (2 Corinthians 9.6-7; Ephesians 5.1; James1.17). God loves a cheerful giver.
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” -Romans 8.32
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Corinthians 9.7
At Ethnos360 Bible Institute, we desire to study God`s Word accurately and apply it to our lives. We want our hearts and desires to be aligned with His will, and we know His will by studying His word. Ethnos360 Bible Institute offers two years of chronological Bible teaching. Want to know how you can learn more about the Bible? Request your free information packet today!
Reference: Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories. 2004. Bowker.
