"God loveth a cheerful giver." The Greek word here
translated cheerful is hilarion, which means really
"hilarious, joyful." The gift may be measured in dollars
and cents but God looks not on such standards, He looks on
and loves the "joyful" giver. We read in Deuteronomy 28:47,
48, "Because thou servedst not Jehovah thy God with
joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the
abundance of all things; therefore shalt thou serve thine
enemies ... in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and
in want of all things." This shows that there is a definite
relation between the cheerfulness or joyfulness of our
giving and our prosperity. Whether we make a large or a
small gift, let us make it with largeness of cheer and joy,
even of hilarity, remembering that God loveth a "hilarious"
giver. "Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do
them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do."
Blessings That May Be Placed On Our Gifts
Divine love, through me, blesses and multiplies this
offering.
The Father gives abundantly; I receive thankfully, and give
again generously.
This is the bounty of God, and I send it forth with wisdom
and joy.
Divine love bountifully supplies and increases this
offering.
I give freely and fearlessly, fulfilling the law of giving
and receiving.
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