A willing offering and a cheerful giver
Image via Wikipedia "Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy." ( 1 Chronicles 29:9 ) As the people brought gifts for the construction of the temple in Jerusalem , it is mentioned no less than six times in this chapter that their offerings were willing offerings (once in verses 6 and 14 , twice each in verses 9 and 17 ). In fact, they were not only willing, but also joyful in their giving. Joyful giving is not the usual response to a fundraising effort for a religious cause. The great proliferation of causes today--not only for churches but for multi-church or para-church projects, usually associated with high-pressure solicitations by professional money-raisers--has developed a growing cynicism in Christians toward all such appeals. That is not the way it should be, "for God loveth a cheerful giver" ( 2 Corinthi...