Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having, all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

Why Give?

In reaction to God's grace

God has lavished his love on sinful and unworthy people like us in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We who have received such undeserved generosity are to give abundantly in response. When we see obvious needs we are to be like God - ready not reluctant givers, for God loves a cheerful giver. We can become more cheerfully generous by remembering just how much we have been given.

In recognition of God's gifts

Giving is not limited to financial giving, it includes giving ourselves to every good work. God has given us all we need to give generously but not all of us can give financially. God wants us to be generous not just with our money but with our time, energy, skills, property and homes. If we have received God's abundant grace then we all have something to give generously,. Sometimes, these other things are harder to give than our money!

In response to God's people

Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians to give generously to a collection for other Christians in great poverty. As members of God's family our primary responsibility is to give towards the needs of the Christian family. The needs may be local (e.g. the ministry at St Matthew’s) or further afield (e.g. Christian work that we support in South Africa or abroad). Wherever they are, God's people should come first in our giving: those who teach the word of God (I Tim 5:17), those in need in our church (James 1 :27, 1 Tim 5: 8ff), those in need in other churches (2 Cor 8-9 ).