BE FAITHFUL TO THE END

2 Kings 4:8-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; John 6:1-14

Introduction

Apostle Paul qualifies a cheerful giver as one who sows bountifully and gives as he decides not under compulsion or reluctantly (2 Cor. 9:6-7). 

A cheerful giver means to be ready to act at a moment's notice, to be readily available, and prepared to give willingly in love. With today's economy, it can be difficult for even the most faithful Christian to give to the church cheerfully — either joyously or readily. Meanwhile, this is our Christian duty to God and church, therefore our focus for the week is "A Cheerful Giver Shines".

Shinning Moments of the Cheerful Giver

God instructed Aaron and his sons through Moses on how to bless His people, saying, "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). The shining face of God puts us under the mighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while He mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the hearts and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory. And so David cried out to the Lord, "Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!" (Psalms 31:16). It is the shining atmosphere that every Christian yearns to be in. It is like being within arm's reach of God's provisions - as the Akans put it, "The chick who is close to the mother hen eats the thigh of the grasshopper." 

Therefore, to shine is to be in the divine atmosphere of God where His manifold provisions are easily accessible to grant us rest in His peace. Jesus indicated that His followers will never walk in darkness but have the light of life. This light of life is the shining moment for the Christian.

Getting Ready as a Cheerful Giver

My son, Kofi, who is in class 1 has expressed his desire for farming. He came to me with some orange seeds indicating that he wants to plant them to begin his farming project. He is actually getting ready as an international best farmer in the years to come. For the shining moments of the giver to be a reality, he/she must first prepare adequately to give cheerfully. 

The Shunammite woman prepared by seeking the husband's approval to build an upper room for the man of God. A cheerful giver looks beyond the horizon to see the need to give and get ready to give (2 Kings 4:9).

A cheerful giver receives seeds and sows to increase the harvest (2 Cor. 9:10). The difference between a seed and food depends on what you do with it. The increase in harvest is in the sowing not in the eating. 

The statement from Andrew, Peter's brother indicates the readiness of the boy who owed the meal to share with others, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish..." (John 6:9). 

Cheerful givers do not consider themselves only, but others as well even when it is so small and inadequate. Beloved in Christ, it was the readiness of this boy to give that made the miracle happen. We have prevented many miracles in our lives and that of others because we mostly keep to ourselves and are unwilling to share. This is the very act that makes us lose and be in need always. The Wiseman, King Solomon counseled, "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it" (Proverbs 11:24-26). God shines on those who give cheerfully and out of the bright light of God they also shine.

A Cheerful Giver

Let's learn from Jesus Christ, the greatest giver ever. He left the riches and glory of His heavenly Kingdom, He came to earth and cheerfully gave His life so that we could be saved. As God predestined His children to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29), there can be no better way to emulate Jesus Christ than by giving selflessly the way He did. Our Saviour Himself told us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Exactly so, our greatest motivation for cheerful and generous giving should be the fact that it pleases the Lord as it reflects His gift of salvation to us.

The second reading reveals a number of inspiring truths that should help us become more cheerful givers. As Paul wisely admonished the Corinthians, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). The Wiseman gave this truth a thousand years earlier saying, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing” (Proverbs 3:9-10). As Christ Jesus also puts it, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). Indeed, It is well with the generous one and they are remembered forever (Psalm 112:5,6).

This is an unfailing practice of faith in God. In fact, the only place in the Bible where God invites us to test Him is Malachi 3:10 where He was talking about their tithe and offerings (cheerful giving) to Him: "Put me to the test... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Our shine may not be seen in just material blessings only, He adds; "I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear... Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight..." (Malachi 3:11-12). Being a land of delight is the shining moment that comes from our cheerful giving. The Wiseman says, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).

The Apostle Paul stated, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Cheerful giving, therefore, should be a way of life for the Christian who understands the grace of God. When we give generously and with a willing heart, God assures us that He will watch over us and provide for us (2 Corinthians 9:8,11). 

We must always remember that it is not just our treasure that we are to cheerfully give back to God. King David pointed out, everything we have is from God (1 Chronicles 29:14), and this includes our talents and our time as well. As our days are numbered (Psalm 139:16), our time indeed belongs to God. And any gifts we have are also from Him; therefore, “each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

Conclusion

For God so loved the world that He gave - God is a cheerful giver. Let's do well to remember that we are saved because our God so generously gave (John 3:16). As His children, we are called to be like Him, as the light of the world (John 8:12; Mat. 5:14). When we trust God and honour Him by generously giving our time, treasure, and talent, we are truly letting our light shine before men, and our goodness will reflect on our Father in Heaven to the world. Amen!

Shalom aleichem...