Cheerful Giver

 By: Janet M. Norman

What does it mean to be a cheerful giver?  I believe it means to give freely from your heart. Sometimes we have to go to a party and sign-up to bring a dish and then we huff and puff about having to get the ingredients or even take time to make the dish, so I wouldn’t say that is being a cheerful giver. 

When you think about it, we can give in so many ways. By the way we speak to each other, the gentleness, tone, and delivery of our words. We can positively edify and build each other up. Then there is the opposite effect of tearing down or literally doing nothing. Words do matter and the choice of how we use them effects people  

We can also give emotionally. We check in on our friends and family to make sure they all right. We listen and cry with our friends when they are hurting. Sometimes grievers are just stuck in a rut. Their internal mind is overcome with so many thoughts coming from so many directions they become unable to sleep and in turn become grouchy, irritable, and even unapproachable. 

This is when a generous giver steps in to help. You may need to call or go to the griever’s home to help them. They shouldn’t have to ask for help. They don’t even know how to help themselves sometimes. I know I have been in an endless state of emotional confusion just trying to figure out my next chapter. But this is when we should be calling upon the Lord. 

When we try do things on our own, we may think we are alright. That is until we come to a problem or an issue at work and we just know we need divine intervention. I know some people reading this may not have accepted Christ into their heart, but from my perspective, the only way I can function is from the most incredible Cheerful Giver - Jesus. 

He gives generously and freely. All we have to do is accept his gifts. We then give back. The more we give out, the more God gives us. 

It’s like the parable “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together! ’ “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭14‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.25.14-30.NLT

So, after reading all that it is better to give than receive. The griever has already lost so much. You can be there to help them back on their joyful hike.