The sun was created to give light at daytime and the moon at nighttime. He created clouds not just to add beauty to the skies but also to give shade and bring down rain.   He created the flowers to bloom for us to see the beautiful work of His hand.  He created the fruit trees, vegetables, fish, etc  for our food.  He gave us pets for us to enjoy.  He created and designed everything to give off of itself for us. They were all created “selfless” without a choice but you and I were created to have a free-will whether to be generous or not though originally and wonderfully made to be one.

The ability to think for ourselves and the uniqueness of who God created us to be, alive and having a free will and a choice still remains.  It was never God’s agenda to take control but He is in the business of wooing our hearts and our own will to be yielded and enthralled in His love.  He SO LOVED US that He GAVE His only begotten Son that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).  He powerfully demonstrated His love.  He didn’t just speak it, He did it.

The character and nature of God, Who is Love, is that of a generous giver.  He gave us His Son to save us.  He gave us His Spirit to guide and empower us.  He gave us His Word to light our path and to be the sword of our spirit.  He gave us His life that we may have life AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY!  (John 10:10)    These and a countless more He has done ALL because of love.  Loving isn’t love without giving.

What makes us different from Him if we’re created according to His image and likeness?  If He is a giver, then we have the DNA of a giver. He doesn’t command us to give reluctantly or under compulsion, but He has commanded us to LOVE, LOVE and LOVE!  Why is that so?  Because one can give without loving but no one can love without giving.

Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, NOT RELUCTANTLY or SORROWFULLY or UNDER COMPULSION, for God LOVES (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a CHEERFUL (joyous, “prompt to do it”) GIVER [whose heart is in his giving].                             2 Corinthians 9:7 AMPC

I got so encouraged when I read the portion of this verse that says ..”He loves, He takes pleasure in A CHEERFUL GIVER!”  I asked why, Lord?  Why does it delight You when we cheerfully give?  Hmmm … If you are parents who are generous givers and you know how it feels when you give, then as your children are witnessing what you are doing that delights their hearts, they SURELY will do the same.  Parents have great influence, in fact the best examples to your children.  You are their personal, powerful and very influential visual aids.  Your words matter but your actions go farther.  They imitate you and your ways.  How does it make you feel watching your children do the same as what you are doing?  Surely you’ll be so delighted and proud.  Soon enough you will catch yourself saying .. “that’s my  child!”

It is our Heavenly Father’s great pleasure to see us, His sons and daughters, giving cheerfully just like Who He is.  There is nothing He desires most than us journeying to be like Him, a generous giver, not out of coercion but of a loving invitation through intimacy with Christ where obedience flows as our whole beings are influenced by Who He is and make us become who He created us to be.

   “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”  Ephesians 5:1 NLT

Photo Credits:  Erik Quianzon