"Giving Gifts To God"

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 

Which is more important, the gift you give to God or the attitude in which you give it? It has been said that the way you give it is more important. Actually, it is both. What you give and the way you give it are both equally important. 

 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) God gave out of love, and He gave the best (His Son) for us. By example He showed us that the gift and the way in which it is given are both important.

 

In the very beginning Abel and Cain both offered gifts to God. Abel's gift was accepted, Cain's was not. Neither Cain's gift nor his attitude in giving it was pleasing to God. There was a widow who gave two mites. Her gift wasn't big, it was very small, but Jesus made sure to point it out to His disciples. Her gift and her attitude in giving it to God were both accepted. In the Old Testament the people brought their sacrifices to the priest. The priest then inspected the sacrifice (gift) to see if it was acceptable as an offering to the Lord. We also read in the scriptures where God Himself told Israel that He would not accept their offerings or even take notice of them. He rejected their gifts and the attitude in which they gave them. 

 

So when we talk about giving our gifts and offerings to the Lord, it is important that we give them with the right motive, the right heart and the right attitude because God loves for us to give cheerfully and not grudgingly. But what we give to God is as equally important. He deserves our best, our finest, the first fruits and not just anything we choose to give Him just for the sake of saying we gave. So what are you giving to God? And how are you giving it? 

 

The gift He wants most is you. Our lives are to be living sacrifices. Is that what you are giving Him-- yourself? And how are you giving Him yourself? With reservation? Willingly or unwillingly? Gratefully or begrudgingly? 

 

Have a great day. The gift we give to God is as equally important as the attitude in which we give it. 

 

For further reading:

Luke 21:2-4

Amos 5:22

Genesis 4:1-7

Romans 12:1