"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Giving of our time and money is an essential aspect of following Jesus.
Furthermore, God doesn't just want you to give, He wants you to be happy about it when you do give--be a cheerful giver! Paul uses the well-known proverb, "You reap what you sow," as the basis for his appeal to the Corinthians. God does not command us to give a certain amount, but He does provide opportunities for us to give and to give generously. Those who sow generously will also reap bountifully in terms of bearing fruit for God's kingdom. God loves giving that is accompanied by joy because it expresses contentment in God's gracious provision for each one of us, which, in turn, makes every good work possible and results in thanksgiving and glory to God (vs. 8). I sincerely believe that when you make giving to God's Kingdom your top financial priority, then He will make provision for you to meet your other financial obligations and also grow your finances so that you can give more into His Kingdom. Additionally, what applies to giving of your money also applies to giving of your time. The complete and well-rounded follower of Jesus gives cheerfully of both time and money to the service of God's Kingdom!
