Cheerful Giving

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026

Readings: 2 Corinthians 9 | Psalm 89:19-52

Paul is writing about a hot topic: Money. But he does it without any guilt trip. The Corinthians had promised to help the struggling believers in Jerusalem, and Paul wants their generosity to be real, not reluctant. It’s a model for missions. It’s not about carving out a missions budget so the institution of the church can decide how to allocate your tithe for you. His principle is simple: “Each of you should give (directly) what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The Greek word behind “cheerful” is hilaron, and yes, it’s where we get “hilarious.” God isn’t after grudging transfers or regular transactions. He delights in open-handed joy. And the Church should give visibility to this joy.

In 1995, an eighty-seven-year-old Mississippi woman named Oseola McCarty stunned the University of Southern Mississippi by donating $150,000 for scholarships. She had left school around sixth grade to care for her family and spent decades washing other people’s clothes for a few dollars at a time, saving quietly and living simply. She would never attend the university herself, but she gave so that others could. Her gift made national news, yet she seemed more delighted than impressed with herself. That’s the Corinthian spirit exactly: generosity as a joyful overflow rather than a performance or self-proof.

Why should we live like this (aside from the biblical example)? Because we are not the source. Paul says God “is able to bless you abundantly” (9:8), and he ends the chapter by pointing to the original gift: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (9:15). Christ gave himself without reserve, and every act of cheerful giving is a small echo of that grace. You are not a leaky bucket trying to hold onto everything or let an institution direct your God-given impulses for generosity. You are a channel for a kindness that never runs dry.

Devotional Prompts:

• When you give, what usually shows up first: joy, obligation, or anxiety? What might that reveal about how you see God’s provision?
• Who is someone whose quiet generosity has shaped you, and how could you pass that kindness on?

Prayer: Generous Father, you gave us your Son without holding anything back, and we are still amazed. Loosen our grip on what we fear losing, and teach us the freedom of giving with glad hearts. Let our open hands become a testimony to your indescribable gift. Amen.