Christian Tract Outreach

"Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantely or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I would think that for you, just as for me, there is little more off-putting that one who gives either of their time, their attention, or their worldly goods, in a begrudging way, simply because they are obliged to do so by some law, or because they, for whatever reason, need to do something in order to feel good about themselves, or to get the approval of their piers.

Unless we can give joyfully, praising our wonderful God for the privilige of serving his saints, pouring ourselves out for them as the believers in the churches of Macadonia did in 2Cor 8:1-5, the whole exercise is valueless before the Lord of all creation. Those saints did this because of the love they had for all their brethren, including those they had never met, not because they were, of themselves, such loving, giving people, but because the love of God (i.e. his ability to love) had been poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5) That same love is fully available to us today, so let us make full use of it.