Aquino Jr., Luvimin A.

November 3, 2014
Philo 1- Introduction to Philo and Logic
7:30 8:55 MWF
Giving Cheerfully and With a Heart, Honors and Glorifies God
Giving is simple but giving cheerfully is another thing. It is, by which a man
gives something not because he needs to but because he wants to. Its not just
about being generous. Rather, generosity is only a part of it. Its an act of Christian
stewardship.
Christian Stewardship is being grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in
the light of God's purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Christian stewards,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful
decisions. Stewardship is lived out in:
living and telling the Good News;
sharing with God in seeking justice, peace, and the integrity of creation in
an interdependent universe;
wisely employing God-given human resources, abilities, and relationships;
sharing the material resources we hold and giving them in service, justice,
and compassion;
providing for future generations; sharing in the life, worship, and responsible
stewardship of the Church and of its mission.
Going back to being a cheerful giver, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of
you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. As Christian, its a quality or fruit
for following Christs examples. Giving back not only for the material blessings He
gave us, but also to give our time, talents, and hearts to Him.
Now, are we a cheerful giver? Here are 6 points to help us evaluate ourselves.

1. A Christians giving should be proportional. God wants us to set aside

proportional amount according to how He has blessed us. One example for these is
the financial blessings we receive. When we receive high income, as a thanksgiving
to the Lord, we should bring back a portion of it. Its from him anyway.
So what does it mean a portion? The bible tells us that we should give back a
tenth portion of our income as clearly explained in Deuteronomy 14:22-26. Thats
what tithing is all about.
2. A Christian's giving should be generous. In Romans 12:8 it says if it is to
encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to

lead or to provide for others, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Giving implies not expecting anything in return. It is sharing your blessings with
thanksgiving. You give because you are blessed. To the extent of even if it hurts, you
still give. Trusting God that hes always there to provide all your needs.
3. A Christian's giving should be regularly. 1 Corinthians 16:2 says On the
first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping
with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be
made. Do it first before anything else, prepare yourself for giving. It is more on
giving our tithe for Him in our church. But it can be on our daily basis. We should
give not because we have extra, but because we have the heart to share something
to others. We might say this is my hard work, why should I give what I have
earned. Deuteronomy 8:17-20 is the answer for your question. Remember that
God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the
covenant that he promised to your ancestorsas it is today.
4. A Christian's giving should be inconspicuously! We must give not to show
off to others. When we give, as much as possibly do it in secret. Let not your right
hand see what the left hand is doing as stated in Matthew 6:3. Don't give to sound a
horn for others to know. One biblical example is the story of the Widows Offering
found in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4
5. as a Christian, we should give abundantly! Luke 6:38 says Give, and it will
be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to
you. As I read a commentary about this, he says Christian charity will make no
difficulty in giving that which eternal truth promises to restore. Let us give, neither
out of mere human generosity, nor out of vanity, nor from interest, but for the sake
of God, if we would have him place it to account. There is no such thing as true
unmixed generosity but in God only; because there is none but him who receives no
advantage from his gifts, and because he engages himself to pay these debts of his
creatures with an excessive interest. As God gives us overflowing blessings, we
should also do the same, giving more on what the other person needs with then
consideration
of
course
on
the
other
points
provided.
(http://www.godvine.com/bible/luke/6-38)
6. as Christians, we should give cheerfully! As a Christian, this must be our
one visible quality seen in our lives. We should do our duties as living sacrifices to
the Lord, our God. We should offer not only our material blessings we receive, but us
as a whole. Offering our time, talents, and our commitment to the Lord.