He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn will be lifted high in honor (Ps 112:9).

These words describe the spiritual status of the one “who finds great delight in his commands”: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor.” The heart of giving is an important part of God’s image, and it comes from God. All humans, no matter how wicked they may become, still have this heart hidden inside them, and when they give, whether it is material or work, they always experience joy. We are all created to give.

Yet, this hidden heart of giving is often veiled to us today, so that it does not work effectively. Obviously, it is Satan who has blinded us to it by making us believe that God is so mean that we, too, can be mean like him. It does not mean, though, that we have lost that heart of giving as a part of God’s image. It is still in us. Therefore, all we need to do is to follow that hidden heart, and let the joy of giving spring up in us.

Paul quotes the above verse in his second letter to Corinthians, in which he encourages the church members there to give and help their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. If it is only a matter of collecting money, he can simply command them to give. In that way, however, the offerings they give would have no meaning in God’s kingdom, and the money moves in no relationship with God’s work. Thus, he encourages them to give by teaching some basic principles of giving:

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. As it is written:

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever (2 Cor 9:7-9)."

The most necessary condition in giving is to be “a cheer giver.” It means that you give willingly with the genuine desire to give. “Not reluctantly or under compulsion” refers to a non-legalistic attitude, not by being bound by a negative obligation—“I must give, though I do not want to.” To “give what he has decided in his heart to give” signifies freedom from such a legalistic attitude: you give by obeying the will given by God who lives in you. Thus, if you give against such freedom by comparing with others and desiring to be seen or praised by them, you lie to yourself and God because you give even though you really do not want to give. You remember what happened to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. Everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Therefore, it is not the amount of money you give, but the heart of giving that matters in God’s kingdom. Look at the following story:

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on (Mark 12:41-44)."

Note, particularly, the way Jesus sat down and watched the people giving. He watches you in the same way when you give. God is keener on seeing a spiritual thing than a physical thing because he is a spirit. He blesses you by seeing your heart of giving. And what is more significant is that God blesses others in your family and in your church by seeing you giving. This is a very important principle of God’s grace: God blessed us all because of one man, Jesus Christ.

(we are) … sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything (2 Cor 6:10).