2Co 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God is a cheerful giver who gives not grudgingly and we should be that way too. When the Bible tells us what God loves we should take notice. This scripture tells us that he loves a cheerful giver. The word cheerful in the Greek is "hilaros" this is where we get our word for hilarious. This word also means prompt or willing. Many believers seem to struggle in this area for various reasons. Many site some ministers monetary indiscretions or past abuses of a church. However, I think the main reason people are not hilarious givers is a spiritual problem called "cirrhosis of the giver." Cirrhosis of the liver happens when people drink alcohol. Cirrhosis of the giver happens when God’s people are not consistently full of the “New wine” of the Holy Spirit. In the natural a person who drinks alcohol occasionally will rarely get cirrhosis of the liver. It usually only happens to people who are addicted to alcohol and are constant drinkers. The opposite of this is true spiritually. People who occasionally experience God's presence in a church service or prayer develop spiritual cirrhosis of the giver. The Bible says in Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Believers who are full of the Holy Spirit will be full of Joy. Their joyful giving is an expression of the nature of God at work in them. So here's the good news for the stingy, penny pinchers who grudge the word offering. Come to the well that never runs dry and drink deeply of God's presence. Ask God today to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit and joy unspeakable and full of glory will be your portion. Cirrhosis of the giver will be a thing of the past and giving will be a blast!