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God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Ayo Fabiyi, Victor Torres, Roderick Coleman

Introduction In this study, we will seek to understand better what is cheerful giving in the sight of God. What gifts does God expect us to give to others? When are we expected to give? When are we to refrain from giving? What kind of giving is beneath God’s glory?

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

Our giving in Christ is not to be done with partiality. In the law of Moses, things were written to admonish the strong to help bear the infirmities of the weak.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NKJV) 7 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, [...being born again, who is our brother?] 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you,

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saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

Also written in these laws are warnings not to take advantage of each other, specially a brother who falls into poverty.

Leviticus 25:35-37 (NKJV) 35 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. [=Gal 6:1- “restore such a one in the spirit of meekness”, be a helper in the Body] 36 Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. 37 You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.

A Life of Giving The life of a true follower of Christ is a life of giving. Our Lord has set an example for us all to follow to have the mind to serve others rather than to be served.

Matthew 20:28 KJV “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The saints have the same commission as their Head, “to minister, and to give our life as a ransom for many”. Who should be the object of our ministry? Who should we lay down our life for? Our Lord doesn’t leave us to guess.

John 14-15:13 VKJ “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

We must lay down our lives for those who do whatsoever the Lord commands. The Lord’s friends are also His brothers, and sisters and mother.

Mark 35-3:31 KJV “There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent

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unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”

The Lord is drawing a contrast between His earthly flesh and blood, and His spiritual flesh and blood, His Body. He is very clear whom we must pour our precious ointment on – those within our gates:

Matthew 13-26:6 KJV “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

This woman is a symbol of us who must pour our precious ointment on our Lord’s body. The disciples, who were immature at this time, saw this as being wasteful. But in the sight of our Lord, whenever we pour our precious ointment on each other, “she hath wrought a good work upon me”. Whatever we do to the least of our Lord’s family, we have also done it unto Him. No

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section of the ministry pouring out this ointment towards the saints is a waste. Hidden wisdom in giving Let us focus on some wisdom in giving being taught in this parable. We know from the Truth that it was a good work wrought on the Lord’s body. What was the intention of that giving? Why such precious ointment...what are we this day being taught? What is the hidden wisdom being spoken in this living Word here? Again, we are not left to guess. We must not add to or take away from the Word, but to spiritually discern holding fast to what is written. The Truth tells us: “She did it for my burial.” Likewise as we are commanded to maintain a good work, here are what must be in place for us to fulfil the Spirit of this event. 1. Only our precious ointment must be given to any members of the Lord’s Body, poured on our Head- or else it is no longer a good work. 2. The purpose or intention of the giving must always be to aid the burial of the Lord’s Body. The mystery in Godly charity is that 1 & 2 goes hand in hand. We cannot do a good work without having precious ointment, and the burial of the body of sin – a good work – cannot be accomplished without this precious ointment. The event is one. How is this event accomplished in our walk? This is the Lord’s precious ointment we are first given in order to pour on the Lord’s Body upon this earth:

2 Corinthians 1:22 (KJV) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 (KJV) 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. [=Precious above all things]

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The holy Spirit of God in our hearts is the foundation and power source needed to do any good work in the sight of God. The Sum of all that is good works in the sight of God is contrary to what is good works before the men of this world, as this parable also reveals. After freely receiving the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts, there is one purpose, one work upon this earth which the Spirit of God empowers us to do, (manifesting in innumerable ways in the physical) and that is to freely give back, distribute the same Spirit to others cheerfully. The outcome of such giving of the Spirit, however it manifests in the physical with the giver taking heed to themselves, is for members themselves to continually be forsaking all unrighteousness and ungodliness of this present world, the burying of their body of sin. The passing away of all that is in this world, the doing away with the spirit of the world wherein is all lusts (1Jn 2:15+) contrary to God’s way within us, in our lives, is the preparing for the Lord’s burial to eventually show the Lord’s death being fulfilled within us. All spiritual gifts from the heart, manifesting in several different ways, must continue to edify the giver, thereby edifying the whole church.

1 Corinthians 14:12 (KJV) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, [...the giving and receiving..] seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Preparing for the sinful flesh to be done away with is through pouring of the Spirit (=precious ointment) on our Head, which spiritually is one and the same as eating the Bread and drinking of the cup of the New Testament. This is how cheerful giving is fulfilled before God.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Without the precious ointment, we do not have the power or the heart of charity to do a good work in the sight of the Father. Without the holy spirit, we cannot die and be buried to our own sinful flesh. There is no greater work before God that this woman can accomplish upon the earth, than to GIVE / POUR her most precious possession, her great treasure of Christ in our hearts and minds to the Head of those being dragged out of the spirit of this world, those ready to die the death of the Cross. Some with the ointment forsake this Truth to sell the ointment, to make carnal gain, to do good works under the Law and gain praise and honour in the sight of men. When we pour out the precious ointment, we are making many rich in all the treasures of

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God. The pouring of the ointment is the enriching of others.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV) As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, [..the poor of this world rich in faith...] and yet possessing all things.[.. of the Spirit of God to enrich others.]

This is our memorial for others, to be used of God to impute all the treasures of Christ in their hearts and minds. The only memory the members of Christ must be impressing on others’ hearts is not the perishable things of this world, but the love of Christ that does not fade nor pass away.

Matthew 26:13 KJV “Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

Distribution of limited resources We are all given limited resources by God’s grace, and we must be mindful of where God wants us to use and distribute these resources.

Romans 12:3 (KJV) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 2 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) But we will not boast of things without our measure, [...beyond and above the measure of the spirit given to us, trespassing into fleshly strength...] but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

Not only the earnest of the Spirit (a limited, measured resource to each member) but physical resources of this world – money, time, energy etcetera. Spiritual Money= True knowledge, understanding and Wisdom of God (applied knowledge) in Christ. Spiritual Time= Now, the Time is at hand in the day of the Lord. Spend it wisely. Spiritual Energy= Christ in you, the energy of the Sun of righteousness, empowering to be patient, joyful in trials, love those who hates etcetera. It is the energy needed to overcome

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all that is in the world. Every time we spend our resources, how much of the Spirit we have been given is manifested in the manner which the physical resources are spent. When we spend money, time or energy on someone, we must ask ourselves if we are spending/sowing to the flesh (keeping the flesh alive to this world, treasuring up the works of the flesh) or are we spending/sowing to the Spirit (preparing for the burial of the body of sin that the Spirit be risen with Christ, manifesting in the works of the Spirit).

Galatians 6:8 KJV For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow, therefore we must take heed where we are using the ‘talents’ given to us. Are we servants who do well by making full use of the talents to profit the ministry, or are we the wicked and lazy servant who buries the talent given to him in the ground? There’s always a trade off. Whatever money, time, or energy we spend on the things of the flesh, is money, time, or energy we are not spending on the things of the spirit.

Matthew 6:24 KJV No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In all that’s been said so far, nowhere did our Lord nor the apostle Paul tell us to abandon nor neglect our families in the physical flesh, to not provide for our own. Our Lord was critical to the Pharisees who neglect their parents when they needed their help.

Matthew 7:11 – 13 KJV But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

The apostle Paul charged the relatives of widows to take good care of them. He made it clear that those who do not take care of their own families are denying the faith.

CEV 5:4 mothy1 Ti But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn to serve God by taking care of her, as she once took care of them. This is what God

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wants them to do. 1 Timothy 5:8 KJV But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Our giving should always come from a cheerful heart, not by compulsion or grudgingly.

2 Corinthians 7-9:6 KJV But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

To give from a cheerful heart, we must thoroughly understand what a cheerful heart is in the sight of God. There are many in the world, who have not known the Lord, but do great and wonderful works for the physically poor and the physically sick, giving their resources of money, time and energy for great charities. There are times and seasons according to the traditions of the world when people are expected to be more charitable, when they exchange gifts between each other in the name of their gods. Though it may be a cheerful season for many inhabitants of this world, this does not qualify one as being a cheerful giver in the sight of God. The affairs of this world, although having an outward appearance of charity, is devoid of the Spirit of Christ does, and only sowing to the flesh. As those that are being born again, our thoughts and ways in Christ regarding giving are no longer to be after the flesh, after the traditions of men as in times past. All things are become new:

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things [...including our giving...] are become new.

Our purposeful giving from now on is from the measure of Christ in our hearts.

Ephesians 3:17 KJV That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; [...”according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.”...] that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Christ in us will always give out of humility and sincerity of the heart, a willing mind, not

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giving by compulsion, nor beyond and above what we do not have. This has been a great source of sorrow and distress to many, to give out of an unwilling and grieved heart. This is not being a cheerful giver before God. We must be taught to know the difference, and make a distinction between what is cheerful and what is not cheerful giving before God, between the clean and the unclean.

Ezekiel 44:23 KJV And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

The beginning of any giving starts from the heart, the mind:

2 Corinthians 8:12 KJV For if there be first a willing mind, [=..by first giving ourselves to the Lord in our hearts..] it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

The natural man will give out of what he does not have, caused by many spirits of the world such as pride, fear of the flesh, peer pressure, worldly traditions, weakness, honor, glorying in appearance, etc. A measure of Christ in our hearts, as the New Man, directing us into the love of God leads us to sow primarily to the hearts of others, no longer to be sowing/giving to the receiver’s flesh, the spirit and ways of the world in others, but sowing to the inner man. God’s commandments of cheerful giving is not meant to put members under heavy burden, grieved and sorrowful while easing others. As it is written:

2 Corinthians 8:13 – 14 KJV For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

Cheerful giving is:

• Coming from the spirit of Christ, from a willing mind • Out of what one has, and not out of what one does not have • Impacting the joy of Christ to both the giver and the receiver • Not of necessity or fleshly obligations

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In our times and seasons, we will also be the receivers of the gifts of God through others. The equality comes primarily from us sharing the things of the Spirit with each other, with receivers and those that give to us. We give love of Christ even as we receive love of others. We impact knowledge of God even as knowledge of Christ is impacted on us. We become peacemakers even as we enjoy the peace that passes all understanding from others. Any giving that is not of faith, not of Christ’s direction within us is sin. It is beneath the glory of God, outside our gates, catering to only the flesh in others. This is what the apostle Paul meant by sowing to the flesh, having great appearance of good works, feeling of pride and achievements. But if it does not edify the heart, exalt a brother or sister in the way of Christ, nor give comfort to their soul in the path of the Truth, bringing no fruits to enrich the poor within the gates, it profits nothing in the sight of God. What is profitable to the old man is not profitable in the sight of God. The giving may become a burden, vanity and vexation to the Spirit while also easing another and hurting the giver. To men, it may have an appearance of cheerfulness, glorying in appearance, but not in heart.

2 Corinthians 5:12 KJV For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

The receiver being cheerful at receiving of the gift does not make anyone a cheerful giver before God. If our gifts and intents are not being sown to the spirit to build up another in the way of the Lord, it is not a cheerful giving before God. Rather, it is still the old way of the natural man being done out of the will of the flesh, not the willing mind and cheerfulness of Christ. With the Truth of Christ operating in us, if there is any doubts and burden being created in giving money, energy or spending time with someone, we should take heed to the Truth and refrain “from the works of our own hands to our own hurt.”

Jeremiah 25:7 KJV Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

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The Lord expects a gain from the talents He has given us – the fruits of righteousness. We must be careful not to use our resources on someone who is not showing any fruits of righteousness even after receiving an abundance of help. This is like putting our wages in “a bag with holes.”

Haggai 1:6 NKJV “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

The Body of Christ must not be brought under such worldly obligations to put wages “into a bag with holes”, burdening one’s own Body. Any support or giving that can be done by any member should be done as led by the Spirit, no one having dominion over others’ personal giving.

2 Corinthians 1:24 (KJV) Not for that we have dominion over your faith, [...or any personal charities...] but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

If giving becomes a spiritual burden, that is the Spirit witnessing to us we are no longer being a cheerful giver before God. We are not helping our own joy. Such burden should not be passed to the church thereafter, but resolved to get one back on track to the narrow way of cheerful giving, to stand by the faith of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 5:16 (NKJV) If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

We must understand what giving grudgingly before God means. G3077- GRUDGINGLY Transliteration: lupē Pronunciation: loo'-pay Definition: Apparently a primary word; sadness: - grief grievous + grudgingly, heaviness, sorrow. KJV Usage: sorrow (11x), heaviness (2x), grievous (1x), grudging (with G1537) (1x), grief (1x). Any gift that is given with sorrow of heart, with any grief, causing heaviness to the giver/sower is no longer of Christ, but once again, of the will of the flesh sowing to the flesh. It may have an appearance of godliness to it, but the power of the act to reach and turn the heart unto God is denied. Giving without joy, but with grief is unprofitable (Heb 12:17) to all before God.

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Giving with grief is of the same worldly spirit as giving out of necessity, not cheerfully. G318- CHEERFUL Transliteration: anagkē Pronunciation: an-ang-kay' Definition: From G303 and the base of G43; constraint (literally or figuratively); by implication distress: - distress must needs (of) necessity (-sary) neededth needful. KJV Usage: necessity (7x), must needs (3x), distress (3x), must of necessity (2x), need (with G2192) (1x), necessary (1x), needful (1x). To be distressed when giving does not cheer up anyone, and once again, it is indicative that we are giving or distributing out of and beyond our measure of the Spirit. Giving beyond our measure inevitably causes us to become sad, grieved, distressed and we begin to operate after the flesh (sowing to the flesh), which in due time can bring harvest of disappointments, dejection, bitterness and even losing our faith in God. We are to stand by faith, and nothing should jeopardize this. Instead of reaping joy of heart, peace, increased obedience to the Lord, we get carried away unto dumb idols of worldly charity to reap sorrow of heart. As ignorant Gentiles, that which is purposed to be good, (giving to others) becomes death to us.

Romans 7:13 KJV Was then that which is good [...e.g. being charitable/giving...] made death unto me? God forbid.

But sin, [...sowing to the flesh through giving...] that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. This kind of giving is not profitable in the sight of God, and we must reconsider our ways and turn to God. In the second epistle to the Church of Corinth, we are told of the seed to be sown in the heart of others, and the harvest we should be reaping. Let us note, in the kingdom of God, the seed being spoken of is not physical money, (as many prosperity preachers will have the world to believe), and the fruits to reap is not a multiple of the money sown.

Luke 8:11 KJV Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (KJV) Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

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God through Christ ministers to us the Word. By hearing, and doing the Word with a ready heart, we bring forth fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22+) such as the righteousness of Christ. The subtilty of the serpent is not always through overt evil deeds, but to distress, heavily bind and deceive many through that which is purposed to be ‘good’. Hence to no longer walk that wide and broad path of ‘good’ many follow, the measure of precious ointment given is reserved for the narrow way to profit the body of Christ, those special, precious few within any of the gates in our land, being baptized into the Lord’s death.

Romans 16:17 – 18 KJV Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Members of Christ are not always deceived by overt physical evils, but many times often by good works they desire to do. We must continue to take heed to ourselves first, and try the spirit of the “good words and fair speeches” of others who desire to continually receive from our hands. This is so our good works of charity are not being used to serve the belly of others, (worldly lusts) and we end up being partakers of their worldly ways. In the Spirit, everything have its Time. There is a time to give. There is a time to refrain from giving.

Ecclesiastes 3:5 (KJV) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

There is a time when our spiritual giving will manifest into giving physical gifts to others, a form of embracing others, to show our love, celebration for and with them. And there is a time when our spiritual giving will manifest into just giving advice, the Word, nothing tangible attached to it, nothing physical to show an embrace of them. For example, we can give truthful advice to others, show them a way, help them in the path to attain something useful for them without having to dispense carnal things of money or other things perceivable by touching. The things that are not seen or felt have greater weight in the sight of God, such as impacting knowledge, wisdom to others, that are not temporary.

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It is liken to teaching a person to fish, lasting him or her for an age, than simply giving fishes. In Spiritual terms, the greater works we do, the weightier matters for an elect of Christ is giving the ‘fish’, which is the Spirit of the Lord Himself that is being given to us. The five wise virgins signified this wisdom all in one in this parable:

Matthew 25:7 – 9 (NKJV) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

Being the five wise virgins, their wisdom is shown in them knowing when it is NOT WISE to give of their finite resources. That’s the only action from them in that parable that distinguished them from the foolish. Being called “wise” in this world means nothing when our works are not wise before God. Being called “foolish” in this world means nothing when our works will cause us to endure in the Truth of the Lord to the End.

1 Corinthians 3:19 (NKJV) For the wisdom of this world [...in giving/charity...] is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;

It is no shame at all before God (rather as often is the case, usually from a heart of pride or feeling ashamed by the flesh) to say NO at times to the spirit of the foolish virgins of this world. There is only one difference from the wise and the foolish. All ten are virgins, all have lamps, all slumbered and slept, all trimmed their lamps, all are waiting for the bridegroom, all says “Lord Lord “. The difference is:

Matthew 25:4 (NKJV) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The wise managed well their resources of oil, which signifies the holy Spirit of God, so they can endure to the End, that is, the coming of the bridegroom.

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Likewise in this world, we must remain sober, vigilant, prudent, wise in our decision makings, knowing and constantly being in the Spirit to discern times and seasons to manage well our resources, as we do business till the Lord comes. We must not be afraid to say NO any more than we can say YES to others when it comes to giving, and pleasing our Father in Heaven. Saying Yes all the time has led to spiritual and physical poverty. Saying No all the time has led to spiritual and physical poverty. The saints of God must be able to discern the time and seasons for each matter. “As we have opportunity.” God will always give us the opportunity to help the brethren, and when that time comes, our heart must rejoice, having been prepared and given the opportunity to give our measure cheerfully. Giving is not limited to the tangible things of this world. Anything physical that is given must be upon the foundation of a ready, willing heart, not sorrowful, not grieved, not of compulsion of the Law of sin and death to give it.

Galatians 10 –6:9 KJV And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Our labors in this world, the rewards of monetary wages amongst many things such as paying bills and feeding ourselves and families, is to also help and support the weak amongst us, within our gates. There will always be innumerable poor and weak of the world, those outside the camp of the saints. But as has been covered thus far, prudence, wisdom, understanding all in the mind of Christ is needed to walk that narrow way to support not only our own necessities (food, clothing, a place to live, care for the family etc) but help those walking with us, the weak with us according to what we have.

Acts 35 –20:33 KJV “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

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I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Let no man tell you otherwise, it is more blessed to give than to receive. The greatest blessing that can be given, the Father Himself gave the world, is His only begotten son. Now, the Spirit of His only begotten son arising in our hearts, we become the gift to others appointed to us. As elect of God, we are not limited or bound to giving out physical, carnal perishable things, even if spiritual things seems of no value to many in this age. It is no great thing sowing carnal things to others, as long as we are not carried away to think it has any relation with spiritual things being reaped. However, sowing spiritual things does move the heart of man, and can cause others to give physical, temporal things. This is no great thing itself, as long as the man of God is not carried away from the Truth by such temporal, perishable things.

1 Corinthians 9:11 KJV If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

But because of the nature of man, such carnal exchange of gifts can and has shown to hinder the gospel of Christ. For that reason, as Paul, the narrow way of Life to follow is this:

1 Corinthians 9:12 KJV If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ...… .......1 Corinthians 9:15 KJV But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: [...giving us carnal gifts because we are ministers, preachers of the gospel...] for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.… .....1 Corinthians 9:18 (KJV) What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

There is great potential for abuse in the giving and receiving of gifts in the ministry of the Lord. Some that started with all sincerity of heart becomes defiled when they see the

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power of gifts in the gospel. Some that mean well becomes grieved when they see the abuse of ministers in charging others, using God’s truth of “God loves a cheerful giver”...”it is more blessed to give than receive” as their anthem to extort and guilt others to give what they do not have or beyond the measure of faith given to them. Few become mainly the receivers, and assign many to be the givers, equality being abolished. The ministry of giving and receiving then becomes a hub of abuse for many, something that is supposed to be good then becomes death to many, leaching of others with increasing deceptive practices, often by “good words and fair speeches”. Greed, envy, and all manner of evil works being present, and as the grave, the carnal heart of the natural man is never satisfied.

Proverbs 30:15-16 (NKJV) The leech [Kjv: horseleach] has two daughters—Give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, “Enough!”: The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water— And the fire never says, “Enough!”

Horseleach - H5936 Transliteration: ‛ălûqâh Pronunciation: al-oo-kaw' Definition: Feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to suck; the leech: - horse-leech. We are all susceptible to be killed spiritually by the horseleach, the good manners of Christ’s life (His blood) being sucked out of us slowly over time. Once we are given sight to comprehend the spirit of the horseleach, through the Truth, we battle to destroy and overcome it. We must be careful not to harden our hearts and be unwilling to give after we have been taken advantage of by others. This experience of evil is useful for us so we can discern better what is true cheerful giving in the sight of God.

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We must continue to offer spiritual gifts to establish others.

Romans 1:11 (KJV) For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Our new hearts where Christ makes His abode, directing our steps, is the source of spiritual gift to others.

John 3:16 (KJV) 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.

Our hearts where Christ dwells is more precious than anything of this world. It is the precious ointment. Thus, being a cheerful giver in the sight of God is not limited to tangible visible things we can see, but the most important, the invisible gift of God though Christ.

Acts 8:18 – 22 (KJV) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Jesus Christ in our hearts is the gift of God. There is nothing greater that we can give any man.

John 4:10 KJV Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

The living water is Christ giving Himself in us, and we to give to those sent to us within our gates. Here are “some spiritual gifts” we (Christ in us) can impact on others, such things God loves and makes us as cheerful givers in the sight of God. There are innumerable more gifts in Christ Jesus.

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Colossians 2:3 (KJV). In whom [=in Christ..] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1. Gift of Peace to give others.

John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; [...through the members of His Body...] not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world may think giving just money will bring or give others peace. Money is just a tool. God can use it to give us peace of mind, or He can use it to cause distress in us. If one is not giving peace of Christ to others, they must examine their hearts and seek how they can be that cheerful giver of peace that God loves. 2. Gift of understanding through His Holy Spirit to give others.

1 John 4:13 (NKJV) By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 5:20 (NKJV) And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

To be used to give others the understanding of the invisible things of God is far greater joy than any gift of this world. The understanding with wisdom of Christ all adds up to cause one to forsake ungodliness and unrighteousness in this present age. This is how we become saviours now and in due time. (Obadiah 1:21, James 5:19-20) 3. Gift of righteousness to sow seed of righteousness in others.

2Co 9:9 – 10 (KJV) (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

4.The weightier gift to others, all in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 23:23 (KJV)

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23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Being a righteous judge, merciful in actions and fidelity to the ways of Christ (faithful) is a state of being, of walking in the Spirit. In Christ Jesus, we are a walking gift of God, and must be giving these weightier matters of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, within and manifesting to others without. We can give all carnal gifts that is in this world, but when we fail to judge between right and wrong, correcting ourselves and others, when we face to balance all with mercy, when we fail to believe in the Truth in the face of adversity, then our gifts becomes a sacrifice of fools, not holy and acceptable, cheerful sacrifice before God. 5. Given us Eternal life- to know God, and we as His Body are to give Life to others.

John 17:2-3 (KJV) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 1Jo 1:1 — 1Jo 1:2 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;).

We give Life to others in this valley of the shadow of death. Life of Christ is a great gift to receive and to give others in the Spirit. All these are not separate of themselves, but are all in One, through His holy Spirit given to us to impact on others as members of the Body of Christ. The Greatest Gifts of God all has its types and shadows in this world. (Rom 1:20, Heb 10:1) We must continue to discern between the Godly and the Worldly, a narrow way between finding that which is true, and that which is false in the sight of God.

1 Corinthians 13:3 (NKJV)

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And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body—-> to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV). And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Love of God which is in Christ Jesus is the greatest- to be used to give one power to become obedient to God, to know His ways to obey God, to teach someone His Laws to comprehend and ultimately be established in Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV). And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Whatsoever we give is holy and acceptable before God when we have first given ourselves to the Lord. That is, Christ in us is directing our giving to others.

2 Corinthians 8:5 (KJV) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

We cannot be cheerful giver before God if we have forsaken the Truth and we still held unto the spirit of the world, the will of the flesh. CONCLUSION It is always good to help others according to God's will. We should always be willing to help others grow closer to God, careful to maintain good works, and being careful not to help others continue in their flesh, thereby partaking in their sins. There is a time for both.

Titus 3:8 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Being a cheerful giver in the sight of God must continually be judged with great wisdom, to discern if we are truly helping one by sowing God's spirit and not the ways of Man. When helping others, we also must discern where our heart is and why we are doing it.

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We must also understand what truly is the best help because every situation God presents us is different. Our mindset must always be to help others, but the narrow way of Truth is HOW to help according to our measure, not if. To the natural man, not helping according to their wishes is no help at all. Sometimes, to not help at certain moment is the best help to keep to the narrow way. For example, children are always requesting help just to spend on their desires. If we do give them help in the way of righteousness and correct them, then we are being good parents like our Father in heaven. We are sowing seeds of righteousness and will bear fruits of righteousness to our children. This is how our Lord judges us and teaches us. (Heb 12:5-11) When we ask for help with the wrong motives, *we receive not* because we want to *spend on our own desires*. Our old man wants God to help him the way he wants to be helped instead of God's way. We have to judge others with this same way of thinking. In what spirit are we giving or receiving? Always first seeing the beam is in our own eye, remove it first before we can go ahead and remove it from our brother’s eye.

Proverbs 13:24 NKJV He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. James 4:1-3 (KJV) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

When we desire to give, that desire itself must be filtered, tried through the Spirit of Christ, to discern those who are poor and weak in the gates, those it will be cheerful to help according to our resources, willingly, not of obligation or necessity.

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We must not be hasty in any charitable deeds, being slow enough to try the spirits, not only the receivers but ours also so we are not stained. It is not cheerful before God to continue to give for others to consume it in their worldly lust. Our trying of the spirits includes how much to give and how fast to help another, always seeking to freely give mercy of the Lord, to do good when it is in our power to do so. We must bear in mind that mercy of the Lord does not equate to giving the natural man whatsoever he wants.

1 Timothy 5:22 KJVA Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Proverbs 3:27 – 28 (KJV) Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

The good works in our hands to give others is the works of Christ. It is due to those whose hearts are being prepared of the Lord, who are grateful in words and deeds by even the smallest drop of water given to them. May God continue to give us His great gifts that does not perish, so we can impact unto others now and in the age to come.

Acts 20:35 (KJV) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,[...primarily the spiritually weak and the physically weak within the gates..] and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Your fellow labourers, ~Ayo, Victor and Roderick.