Fundraising is a necessary part of this trip. 99% of the time it is not exactly “fun,” but it is necessary. Today I want to talk a little about that other 1% of the time that makes the other 99% worth it.
A little while back, one of my fellow racers started suggesting that we pray for
joyful givers. What exactly does the word “joy” encompass here? Joy means to to have great delight caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. Common synonyms for joy include bliss, delight, elation, treasure, gladness, and glee. So what exactly are we hoping for when pray for
joyful givers? Well, I’m glad you asked… A
joyful giver
wants to give money. A
joyful giver
enjoys giving money. A
joyful giver feels
blessed to be able to give money. A
joyful giver finds
delight in answering God’s call to give unto others. A
joyful giver feels delight, bliss, elation, gladness, and glee because they have been blessed by God so they are able to bless someone else. Whew, that’s a tall order to fill!
I understand that sometimes it is hard to imagine feeling joyful at the thought of giving away money… I’ve been there. But the bottom line, is that the bible is clear… we are told to be generous with what God has given us. In 2 Corinthians 9 :11 it says: “You will be made rich in every way
so that you can
be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will
result in thanksgiving to God.” In Romans 12:13 he gets straight to the point: “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” God has blessed us beyond what we deserve… is it asking too much to give a little back?
This blog was actually inspired by a
joyful giver I was able to talk to tonight. I was blessed and encouraged by our conversation. He was God’s answer to our prayer for
joyful givers. Whenever I try to thank him he tells me to thank God instead. He is a true
joyful giver… he feels blessed to be able to bless me, he wants to give me money, he enjoys giving me money, and he finds pure delight in responding to God’s command. Thank you Adrian, thank you to my other
joyful givers, and most importantly, thank you God!
