Have you ever had a narrow escape? The kind when you gasp almost cartoon-like with relief because you made it there safely, made it out without incident, or just in the nick of time? An overwhelming feeling of delight comes over you as you breathe out an exaggerated “Phew!” You look around and think about the antics that happened to get you to where you are, and you’re silly with joy at having made it.
My friend and I were racing to meet a flight. We were a ridiculous sight running across the parking lot with our baggage banging and bouncing against us with each step. Weaving between parked cars, dashing to miss the moving ones, we sprinted through the terminal like quarterbacks leaping over suitcases, nervously laughing at our own spectacle and yet anxiously panicked at the thought of missing our plane.
With our tickets flailing in hand and the gate in sight, we yelled for the stewardess, “We’re coming!” Just in time, we slapped our passes on the counter to get checked through, and with exhausted and relieved sighs, we doubled over for a moment to catch our breath before walking down the corridor toward the plane as the door shut behind us.
The relief we experienced was greater because of the ordeal we had been through and the thankfulness we had that we actually made it. This is the joyful relief of the truly thankful believer.
Why does God love a cheerful giver? Because they get it. They get what they could have missed, and they understand what they have received. The cheerful giver is filled with hilarity and joy at the privilege of giving because they know what an inexpressible gift they’ve been given, and the thought of partnering with the God who saved them is an inexpressible joy as well.
Those who get it, give – not out of compulsion, not begrudgingly, but with hilarious joy – at the opportunity to share in God’s work. We’ve been given much, and we give generously because of it. God loves a cheerful giver because we are most like Him when we love lavishly through giving, and that is a delight to our Creator.
“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
This is an excerpt from the Dwelling Richly Community Bible study “Corinthians: Love & Light” – a 12-lesson study through 1 and 2 Corinthians. You can get those lessons here and join me for lessons with the Dwelling Richly community September-April in person at La Mirada Church or online from anywhere! Access the archive of all Dwelling Richly studies here.
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