When encouraging the Corinthian disciples on generosity, the Apostle Paul wrote, “God loves a cheerful giver.” He further explained that every person is responsible for deciding in their own “heart” what to give. Once a decision is made, it is vital that the giving is done without reluctance. Give with cheer!
From God’s perspective, charity is a matter of the heart, and how charitable giving is done has a direct correlation to its impact. God "loves" a cheerful giver! Now, we understand that God loves things like righteousness, faithfulness, holiness, mercy, and justice. But do we really understand that God loves a person who gives cheerfully! According to Paul, when a person gives cheerfully, God's love is joined within the transaction. Once engaged, all involved share in the tremendous power God's love possesses.
Giving void of cheer evidently does not possess God's love. Giving done reluctantly, miserably, with strings attached, is not blessed by the Almighty's love. In this type of giving, neither the recipient nor the giver has the opportunity to experience that tremendous, eternal love of the Heavenly Father. What a loss!
At the center of Mite’s mission is a focused effort to maximize the impact of donors’ gifts. Our program, with well-vetted, organized projects and excellent follow-through, is designed to deliver joy to the donors, regardless of the size of donations. The Mite experience allows the donor to see their impact and thereby maximize the cheer in charity. As the heart decisions become the most powerful force behind our giving, we engage the love of God and increase the impact of the gifts we give, both from our perspective and from the perspective of those receiving the gifts.
The joy of giving and the impact of a charitable gift are not based on the amount of the donation. The main factor determining the potency of charitable action is the heart of the giver. Charity conducted with reluctance, for selfish reasons, or by compulsion is absent from love and lacks its corresponding power. A charitable action made joyfully, with love and expectation, is filled with potential - the potential to impact far beyond what could naturally be understood.
Let us all give, deciding within our hearts what our gift will be. Let us freely and willingly give with cheer and excitement, expecting a resulting impact that changes lives and helps those in need. Let’s all engage in giving in a way that God’s love will catalyze the interaction, expanding the impact of our gifts, and going beyond even what we dare imagine is possible.