Our Gospel reading today is the same one we read on Ash Wednesday. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Always lessons that we need to be reminded of. In the first reading today from 2 Corinthians 9, St. Paul says, “Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Have you ever known someone who is just naturally generous? Perhaps you are. I can say that I often struggle with this in my heart. I am, by nature, frugal. (My family might use the word "cheapskate.") I often have to question whether I carry that frugality to levels that are greater than they should be. I have a friend that is very naturally generous. Now, he’s not wealthy. But if you were to ever ask him for anything, he would give it to you unreservedly. No questions asked. I wish I could be more like that.
This often carries over into other areas of our lives, including our spiritual giving. (Not that all giving doesn’t have a spiritual component.) If each time you feel as St. Paul says, “sadness or compulsion” when you give, then maybe you need to check yourself. Pray and ask God why you’re having these feelings. Then ask Him to make you a cheerful giver. Because remember…we can never out-give God.
Father, fill us with your spirit of generosity. Help us to be generous and cheerful givers. Amen.
You can (cheerfully) give the gift of knowledge of the faith by giving others A Minute in the Church, available at www.GusLloyd.com.
Good Morning Child of God!
Jesus said we should “Love God, and Love our neighbor . . . ,” and it made me wonder how we Love God? My main conclusions were: We actually Love God by Loving our neighbors and putting to use as many Christian teachings as possible. I’ve also decided that giving money is a way to honor and Love God. A friend remarked that she wasn’t giving her money to the person on the corner because he was just going to use it for drugs. I even remember people not wanting to give their money to the Church because of different reasons it might be misused. It dawned on me that it is not actually my money. It is God’s money! He has given me the ability and situations to earn it. When I tithe or give money to a person in need I am giving money to God. If He allows it to be misused I know He has a good reason, and I have discovered that I cannot “out give” God. Many blessings come from understanding and using the wisdom of the Christian way of life! Amen?