Giving is a gift! And it’s God’s nature: “For God so loved . . . that He gave . . .”

Many times giving is couched in terms of responsibility, requirement or necessity. Actually, giving is designed to be enjoyed by those who participate in it with the motivation and attitude that God teaches us in the Scriptures.

God said it is better to give than to receive, and He made giving one of the gifts that the Holy Spirit grants to believers. Every believer should be a giver and should find joy in giving. Sadly, because of either lack of teaching, wrong beliefs, bad experiences, or all three, many do not experience the joy of giving, and many who have the gift of giving never learn to fully exercise it.

The first key to experiencing joy in giving is faith. If we don’t trust in the Lord to take care of our needs, we will tend to chase financial security and material goods. This is the world’s approach and why the Lord said not to fret about what we are to eat or wear. We are not to chase after these things, because we can trust Him to take care of our needs. Giving away money seems like nonsense to those who do not know the Lord or who have not learned to trust Him. Giving actually helps to build our faith as we follow the second key to joyful giving which is obedience.

Obedience is far more important than the amount given. We can give away large sums of money, but if we are not giving according to God’s direction or in the amounts He is leading us to give, we will not see the good fruit of giving and will not experience the joy He intends us to experience.

The third key to experiencing joy in giving is to give cheerfully, not out of necessity or requirement, but as an act of love and appreciation to the Lord. The Lord loves a cheerful giver - someone who is excited to give.

God doesn’t need our money. He wants us to share in the joy of giving, a characteristic that is a key part of who He is and how He created us to be.