I have been thinking a lot this week about this scripture, from a letter that Paul wrote to the people of Corin:
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul said, "for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Giving with the Right Attitude
When I read this scripture, it resonated with me so strongly. I am such a big believer that our attitudes about how we do things can make such a big impact on how we experience life, especially in church service, where many of us voluntarily accept responsibilities that can take upwards of 20+ volunteer hours a week depending on the time of the year. We have leaders voluntarily taking their weekend to take youth camping, pianists that must learn and practice multiple songs to play in music programs, teachers that study meticulously to prepare and teach lessons, and so forth.
We can do these things with a joyful heart for the good we can do in the world, or we can waste those precious hours bemoaning our sacrifice and bringing misery to our homes, our friends, and those we serve. When we take the time to look outward, when we choose to find and create joy, we bring joy to ourselves as well as to others. After all, the leader gets to go camping, the pianist practices and keeps their abilities strong, and the teachers increase their personal intelligence as they study and prepare.
Dallin H. Oaks said, "Although those who serve out of fear of punishment or out of a sense of duty undoubtedly qualify for the blessings of heaven, there are still higher reasons for service." He says this in the talk, "Why Do We Serve," that he gave in October 1984. I highly recommend this talk, as I couldn't quote every paragraph as I wanted to. I'll just quote one more thing from Elder Oaks - now President Oaks - to whet your interest in this talk: "When the prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to choose and anoint one of the sons of Jesse as a new king for Israel, the Lord told him to reject the first son, though he was a man of fine appearance. The Lord explained, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward apperance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Sam.16:7)"
I like that Elder Oaks clarifies that all service is good, but there is a higher way to serve. That higher way can benefit us personally when our hearts are open. I have a very good friend in the ward that was initially a stranger, that I wanted to serve by mainly trying to be a friend. She has been such a blessing in my life, and I am so grateful that I felt that I needed to get to know here better, because I have been so blessed by her friendship to me.
Changing Our Outlook
I know it's not always this simple but with baby steps, we can change our outlooks on how we serve.
Let me give an example with mowing the lawn and shoveling snow. Neither of these chores are convenient - the lawn keeps growing, and the snow comes down whenever it wants to fall. I'm allergic to grass (terrible hay fever) and I get cold very easily. I can easily lay these burdens on my husband, and he would do them all. Or, I can just get the chores taken care of cheerfully, and know that it's a relief for him. I can think about how I love being outside, and with a busy schedule, it's nice to have an excuse to be outside. I can think about how I used to pull my back a lot, and I'm excited that done right, both these activities are simple ways I can strengthen my back. I love to see the straight lines appear as I shovel through snow or mow a straight line. I love to know that I'm helping to make my part of the world a better place. I know I'm getting exercise, and that it's good for my lungs and heart to do these chore.
We've had opportunities to serve others while we've been outside mowing and shoveling, and accepted them as cheerful opportunities. I especially appreciate this because as we have been able to help neighbors with yard work and snow removal, we can remember when we first moved into the neighborhood, and were burdened with having just switched jobs and homes at the same time. We were so busy, and a kind neighbor mowed our lawn for us. Then another kind neighbor shoveled for us. It was nice to remember what that felt like when we returned the favor and "paid it forward."
This is a simple example but it takes us a step forward in everything we do in life - there are always cons, but when we focus on the pros, they can bring us so much joy.
Paul's Outlook
In the New Testament, Paul recites a list of things that has happened to him as he has preached the gospel in his travels - nearly 10,000 miles worth of travel, mostly by foot, in a twenty-five year period. He has been beaten, whipped, put in prison, threatened with death, etc. In 2 Corinthian 11:24-27 it says:
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul said, "for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Giving with the Right Attitude
When I read this scripture, it resonated with me so strongly. I am such a big believer that our attitudes about how we do things can make such a big impact on how we experience life, especially in church service, where many of us voluntarily accept responsibilities that can take upwards of 20+ volunteer hours a week depending on the time of the year. We have leaders voluntarily taking their weekend to take youth camping, pianists that must learn and practice multiple songs to play in music programs, teachers that study meticulously to prepare and teach lessons, and so forth.
We can do these things with a joyful heart for the good we can do in the world, or we can waste those precious hours bemoaning our sacrifice and bringing misery to our homes, our friends, and those we serve. When we take the time to look outward, when we choose to find and create joy, we bring joy to ourselves as well as to others. After all, the leader gets to go camping, the pianist practices and keeps their abilities strong, and the teachers increase their personal intelligence as they study and prepare.
Dallin H. Oaks said, "Although those who serve out of fear of punishment or out of a sense of duty undoubtedly qualify for the blessings of heaven, there are still higher reasons for service." He says this in the talk, "Why Do We Serve," that he gave in October 1984. I highly recommend this talk, as I couldn't quote every paragraph as I wanted to. I'll just quote one more thing from Elder Oaks - now President Oaks - to whet your interest in this talk: "When the prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to choose and anoint one of the sons of Jesse as a new king for Israel, the Lord told him to reject the first son, though he was a man of fine appearance. The Lord explained, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward apperance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Sam.16:7)"
I like that Elder Oaks clarifies that all service is good, but there is a higher way to serve. That higher way can benefit us personally when our hearts are open. I have a very good friend in the ward that was initially a stranger, that I wanted to serve by mainly trying to be a friend. She has been such a blessing in my life, and I am so grateful that I felt that I needed to get to know here better, because I have been so blessed by her friendship to me.
Changing Our Outlook
I know it's not always this simple but with baby steps, we can change our outlooks on how we serve.
Let me give an example with mowing the lawn and shoveling snow. Neither of these chores are convenient - the lawn keeps growing, and the snow comes down whenever it wants to fall. I'm allergic to grass (terrible hay fever) and I get cold very easily. I can easily lay these burdens on my husband, and he would do them all. Or, I can just get the chores taken care of cheerfully, and know that it's a relief for him. I can think about how I love being outside, and with a busy schedule, it's nice to have an excuse to be outside. I can think about how I used to pull my back a lot, and I'm excited that done right, both these activities are simple ways I can strengthen my back. I love to see the straight lines appear as I shovel through snow or mow a straight line. I love to know that I'm helping to make my part of the world a better place. I know I'm getting exercise, and that it's good for my lungs and heart to do these chore.
We've had opportunities to serve others while we've been outside mowing and shoveling, and accepted them as cheerful opportunities. I especially appreciate this because as we have been able to help neighbors with yard work and snow removal, we can remember when we first moved into the neighborhood, and were burdened with having just switched jobs and homes at the same time. We were so busy, and a kind neighbor mowed our lawn for us. Then another kind neighbor shoveled for us. It was nice to remember what that felt like when we returned the favor and "paid it forward."
This is a simple example but it takes us a step forward in everything we do in life - there are always cons, but when we focus on the pros, they can bring us so much joy.
Paul's Outlook
In the New Testament, Paul recites a list of things that has happened to him as he has preached the gospel in his travels - nearly 10,000 miles worth of travel, mostly by foot, in a twenty-five year period. He has been beaten, whipped, put in prison, threatened with death, etc. In 2 Corinthian 11:24-27 it says:
25 Thrice was I abeaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own acountrymen, in perils by the bheathen, in cperils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In aweariness and bpainfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."
Understandably, then, Paul's attitude could be one of weariness. In fact, he even talks about a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7) that he wished for the Lord to remove from him (likely a reference to an infirmity that he is dealing with, though he doesn't specify) but then comments that the Lord has taught him that "for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8). His attitude, and his understanding that God loveth a cheerful giver propelled him through the important work he did while he was here on earth.
I want to close with the scriptures surrounding the quote about being a cheerful giver:
2 Corinthians 9:7-8:
I want to close with the scriptures surrounding the quote about being a cheerful giver:
2 Corinthians 9:7-8:
"7 Every man according as he apurposeth in his heart, so let him give; not bgrudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a ccheerful dgiver.
8 And God is able to make all agrace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
You can read some of my thoughts on how to teach this concept to children in families, classroom, and during singing time here on Give Said the Little Stream.
You can read some of my thoughts on how to teach this concept to children in families, classroom, and during singing time here on Give Said the Little Stream.
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