Four Heart Attitudes for Giving

In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says, “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.” (NLT)

When it comes to giving, God is much more interested in what’s in our hearts than what’s in our wallets. What he really wants is our willingness—not our wealth.

The Bible says in 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’” (NLT). This verse offers four key heart attitudes we should have toward giving.

1. Give thoughtfully. Not impulsively. The most spiritual kind of giving is when we think about it, pray about it, and then make up our minds about it. God wants our giving to be important and meaningful in life—so he wants us to plan for it.

2. Give enthusiastically. Don’t just think, “I have to give!” Give because we know God’s going to do something big in our hearts when we become a generous people.

3. Give voluntarily. Don’t give in just because we are pressured. God’s not going to bless that kind of giving anyway. But when we feel God challenging us to give, that’s the time to give generously and voluntarily!

4. Give cheerfully. Give with joy! One of the Greek words for “offering” has the same root as the word “hilarious.” God wants us to enjoy giving to him and to others.

Next time you’re considering whether to give or how much to give, remember that God’s greatest concern is our hearts. When we give thoughtfully, enthusiastically, voluntarily, and cheerfully, then we know that’s a gift God will bless! 

God Is Waiting for Me to Plant a Seed

In John 12:24 I read, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (NIV)

What does a farmer do when he has a barren field that’s producing no income? He doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting some seed—because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but it’s not going to produce a crop.

I might think I’m waiting on God for what I’m looking for. But God says, “You think you’re waiting on me? The fact is that God’s waiting on me! He’s waiting for me to plant a seed.”

Everything in life starts as a seed: a relationship, a marriage, a business, a church. And nothing happens until the seed is planted.

Why does God require me to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. I take what I’ve got, and give it away. That takes faith, and it brings glory to God.

Jesus described this principle of sowing and reaping when he was trying to explain why he came to Earth to die on the cross. In John 12:24 Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). Jesus was saying, “People will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and Resurrection. Plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life.”

Here’s the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever I have a need, plant a seed. Whatever I need—more time, more energy, more money, more support, more relationships, more wisdom—just plant a seed. If I need more time, give more time to my family. If I need more money, give it away to someone who needs it. If I need more wisdom, share what wisdom I have with others. Give myself away!

It may not make sense to give away something that I need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in my life.

In summary, when a farmer has a barren field, He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting some seed—because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. I might think I’m waiting on God for what I’m looking for. But God says, “You think you’re waiting on me? The fact is that God’s waiting on me! He’s waiting for me to plant a seed.” Everything in life starts as a seed: and nothing happens until the seed is planted. Why does God require me to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. I take what I’ve got, and give it away. That takes faith, and it brings glory to God. Jesus said that people will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and Resurrection. I’ll plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life.” Here’s the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever I have a need, plant a seed. Whatever I need, just plant a seed. It may not make sense to give away something that I need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in my life.

This is a beautiful picture of the necessary sacrifice of Jesus. Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds. Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for my sin, but also to show his power over death. His resurrection proves he has eternal life. Because Jesus is God, Jesus can give this same eternal life to all who believe in him. 

Enjoying What God Has Given Me

In Ecclesiastes 5:19 I read, “If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.” (GNT)

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV). That’s the kind of God we serve. He gave me the world for my enjoyment! But here’s the problem: I’m so busy getting more that I don’t enjoy what I have.

The secret of contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has given me. Ecclesiastes 5:19 says, “If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God” (GNT).

Instead of grasping for more, pay attention to what I have now. Open my eyes, appreciate what God has already given me, and enjoy what I’ve got.

I need to ask myself, “What am I not enjoying right now?” Most of us get into what I call “when and then” thinking: “When this happens, then I’ll be happy.”

But the truth is: I’m as happy as I choose to be. If I’m not happy now, I’m not going to be happy later. Happiness is a choice! Happiness has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with my attitude.

If I’m not happy with what I’m living on right now, it's guaranteed that I’m not going to be happy with more. Because no matter what I have, I”m always going to want a little bit more.

Happiness is a choice. Choose right now to enjoy what God has given you!

In summary, God richly provides me with everything for my enjoyment”. But here’s the problem: I’m so busy getting more that I don’t enjoy what I have. The secret of contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has given me. Enjoy what God gives me. I should be grateful for it's a gift from God. Instead of grasping for more, pay attention to what I have now. Appreciate what God has already given me, and enjoy what I’ve got.  Avoid getting into “when and then” thinking: “When this happens, then I’ll be happy.” I’m as happy as I choose to be. Happiness is a choice! It has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with my attitude. So choose right now to enjoy what God has given me!

It's good for me to enjoy what God has provided me with, (my wealth and my health). To be able to enjoy my work and accept my place in life. These are all gifts from God. This means I need to view what I have with the right perspective, they are all gifts from Him. Allow my focus to be on the Giver and not the gifts. The truth is that I'm as happy as I choose to be. Happiness has nothing to do with my circumstances. It has everything to do with my attitude. Happiness is a choice. Choose to enjoy what God has given me right now. 

Take off the Old, Put on the New

In Ephesians 4:22-24 I read, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (NIV)

If I want to have lasting change, I have to start with the body—and my mind is part of my body. So, to change my life, I have to change the way I think.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). That word “transformed” in the Greek is the word we get “metamorphosis” from. Metamorphosis is what happens when a caterpillar changes into a butterfly.

When a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, it eventually comes out. But it’s been transformed—not into a better version of a caterpillar, but into a totally different creature. That’s not an improvement. That's a radical transformation! And only God can do that.

Radical transformation is what God wants for me, as well. I can turn over a new leaf on my own, but only God can give me a new life. He does this by renewing my mind.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . be made new in the attitude of your minds; and . . . put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (NIV).

Notice that there’s a putting off and a putting on. The health of my mind comes down to stopping some stuff I need to stop doing and starting some stuff I need to start doing. Stop putting negative, hurtful things in my mind. Start watching and listening to things that make me more like Christ.

In the renewal of my mind, I’ve got to put off before I can put on. Let’s say I go to a store to look for a new coat. I find a new one to try on. But if I’m wearing a coat already, I’ll have to take off the old one before I can put on the new one.

That’s also true spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Look at the verses from Ephesians 2 again. The Bible says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” The “old self” is the impulses and compulsions that pull me the wrong direction.

Then I need to “be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Attitudes are kind of like diapers.  I’ve got to change them every once in a while, or they start stinking.

Only after I’ve put off my old self and old attitudes can I “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

If I need change in my life today? Remember that a changed life begins with a changed mind.

In summary, to have lasting change, start with the body and in particular my mind. To do so means I have to change the way I think. Romans 12:2 tells me to, “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind”. The word transformed in Greek is “metamorphosis”. When a caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon, it eventually comes out. But it’s been transformed—not into a better version of a caterpillar, but into a totally different creature. That's a radical transformation! And only God can do that. While I can turn over a new leaf on my own, only God can give me a new life. He does this by renewing my mind. So I’m reminded to put off my old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be made new in the attitude of my mind. Then I can put on the new self, created to be like God. There’s a putting off and a putting on. It comes down to stopping some stuff and starting some stuff I need to start doing. Stop putting negative, hurtful things in my mind. Start watching and listening to things that make me more like Christ. I’ve got to put off, before I can put on. The “old self” is the impulses and compulsions that pull me the wrong direction. Then be made new in the attitude of your minds.” Attitudes are kind of like diapers.  I’ve got to change them every once in a while, or they start stinking. Only after I’ve put off my old self and old attitudes can I “put on the new self. A changed life begins with a changed mind.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. I should put it behind me lie old clothes to be thrown away. When I decided to accept Christ's gift of salvation, it was a one-for-all-time decision along with daily conscious commitments. I am not to be driven by desire and impulse. I must put on a new nature, head in a new direction, and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me.