1. “The Spirit of Giving!”
2 Corinthians 9:7

2. “…this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.”

3. God is just as interested in the attitude of a gift given as He is in the amount being given…

4. Purpose:
to learn the proper spirit in which our giving to the Lord’s work must be done

5. I The Spirit of Giving GRUDGINGLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word

6. Giving with the spirit of grudgingly suggests the idea of “reluctance, grief, sorrow, or pain of mind.” It’s giving with the attitude of “I’m giving this, but I wish I could hold on to it or put it to some other use…”

7. I The Spirit of Giving GRUDGINGLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word
B. Why Give With This Attitude?

8. In other words, this spirit of giving is done to be seen of men and not of God!

9. I The Spirit of Giving GRUDGINGLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word
B. Why Give With This Attitude?
C. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4 & 5)

10. God cannot and God will not bless the one who gives grudgingly!

11. II The Spirit of Giving UN- DER COMPULSION
A. Literal Meaning of the Word
B. Why Give With This Attitude?

12. When giving is solely motivated from the standpoint of compulsion, God will not, no He cannot bless the one giving.

13. III The Spirit of Giving CHEERFULLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word

14. Carries the idea of prompted to do everything within one’s means or limits.

15. III The Spirit of Giving CHEERFULLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word
B. Why Give With This Attitude?

16. Exodus 36:5-6
“And they said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform.’ So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying ‘Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary.”

17. III The Spirit of Giving CHEERFULLY
A. Literal Meaning of the Word
B. Why Give With This Attitude?
C. Why Some Cannot Give Cheerfully

18. Some love money more than life itself!

19. The only spirit in which to give and to have the blessing of God upon you is to give cheerfully!

20. Conclusion and Summary Some are like a HONECOMB…
“How People Give”
Some are like FLINT…
Some are like a SPONGE…
Some are like a HONECOMB…
Let us resolve to know the joys of cheerful giving. May this be the spirit in which we give to Him!