Read: 2 Corinthians 9:7
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
Did you know that giving (tithing, giving of your time, etc) has nothing to do with our salvation? Our works and actions do not guarantee our place in heaven. Your salvation was given freely by Jesus as He died on the cross for your sins. Accepting Him as your Savior is your salvation. Giving, however, is the next step in the process of your new life in Christ. It is a way of demonstrating our faith. It is showing the love of Jesus.
Loving like Jesus can be tough. Sometimes I think it’s hard enough to like others, much less love. But then I remember the love God has for me. Despite our failures, God shows us grace full of love. How could we love less than He loves us? If we have a relationship with Jesus, we have accepted the Holy Spirit into our hearts. That is our resource to love. Our relationship with God gives us the ability to love but we must feed and grow our relationship with God to apply that love. We need to devote time to our spiritual growth by reading the bible, attending church, joining a small group, and talking to God. Soon we will see the Holy Spirit igniting within us. Words we speak will be kinder. We will give cheerfully, and we will want to invest joyfully in service to others. Our love for others will not be able to be contained. It is a journey – and I am will be right there with you. But it is the best journey we will ever take.
