Several years ago I attended a gathering of givers. We went around the room and told our stories. The words fun, joy, exciting, and wonderful kept surfacing. There were lots of smiles and laughter, along with tears of joy. One older couple eagerly shared how they are always traveling around the world, getting involved in the ministries they’re giving to. Meanwhile, their home in the States is getting rundown. They said, “Our children keep telling us, ‘Fix up your house or buy a new one. You can afford it.’ We tell them, ‘Why would we do that? That’s not what excites us!’”

The more we give, the more we delight in our giving—and the more God delights in us. Our giving pleases us. But more importantly, it pleases God.

“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). This doesn’t mean we should give only when we’re feeling cheerful. The cheerfulness often comes during and after the act of obedience, not before it. So don’t wait until you feel like giving—it could be a long wait! Just give and watch the joy follow.

God delights in our cheerfulness in giving. He wants us to find joy. He even commands us to rejoice (Philippians 4:4). What command could be a greater pleasure to obey than that one? But if we don’t give, we’re robbed of the source of joy and happiness God instructs us to seek!

In this video clip from the Hearts, Habits & Happiness conference on giving, I share more on how to find joy in giving.

How Can I Find More Joy in My Giving? from Randy Alcorn - EPM on Vimeo.

Photo by Evan Kirby, via Unsplash