2025 Impact Report
DAY 1 — Monday, December 1, 2025
When Your Heart Smiles
A journey into joyful generosity and the heart of giving
Scripture
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
A Story Worth Remembering
There's a barbershop on the south side that's been cutting hair for three generations. Every Saturday morning, Mr. James opens early not for paying customers, but for young men from the neighborhood who need a fresh cut before job interviews. He doesn't advertise it. Doesn't post about it online. When someone asked why he does it, he simply said,
"Because watching them walk out with their head held high makes my whole week."
His generosity wasn't calculated. It wasn't for show. It was simply joyful. And that joy? It changed lives.
This is what real generosity looks like, it has a heartbeat. You can feel the difference between someone who gives because they have to and someone who gives because they want to. Joy leaves a mark. Joy creates momentum. Joy becomes a testimony. When joy accompanies our giving, something sacred happens: God is glorified, hearts are transformed, and communities are healed.
As we approach Giving Sunday at EBC, we're not just preparing for an offering—we're preparing our hearts for a divine encounter, a spiritual opportunity to partner with what God is already doing in and through us.
What the Word Really Says
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he wasn't just talking about money per se, he was revealing God's heart about generosity itself. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, he unpacks three essential truths:
First, giving flows from intentional decision.
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart…" This isn't spontaneous or haphazard. Kingdom generosity is prayerfully thought through, birthed from gratitude, anchored in faith, and driven by purpose.
Second, giving must be emotionally free.
"…not reluctantly…" The Greek word here speaks to inner grief or resentment. God doesn't celebrate gifts wrapped in regret or obligation. He's after something deeper.
Third, giving cannot be coerced.
"…or under compulsion…" External pressure has no place in kingdom economics. God desires voluntary, liberated generosity—not grudging compliance.
Then Paul drops this revelation: "God loves a cheerful giver."
That word cheerful? It's hilaros in Greek where we get "hilarious." This isn't about being silly; it's about overflowing, irrepressible joy. It describes a heart that genuinely delights in blessing others, advancing God's kingdom, and honoring the One who gave everything for us.
Here's the truth: biblical giving isn't just a financial transaction—it's spiritual worship, emotional freedom, and relational transformation all wrapped into one. God isn't measuring the size of your gift; He's celebrating the spirit behind it.
Living It Out Today
We live in a world where people give out of guilt, fear, or social pressure—worried about appearances, anxious about lack, trying to keep up with expectations. But joyful giving makes a radical declaration:
"God is my source. God is my sustainer. God is my security."
When you give with joy, you're not just releasing resources—you're releasing faith. You're announcing to the enemy, to your circumstances, and to your own doubts: "I trust God more than I trust what I can see."
Joyful givers live differently because they believe differently. They understand a kingdom principle: what leaves your hand never leaves your life when it's surrendered to God.
The One Thing to Remember
Joyful giving isn't measured by the amount in your hand—it's revealed by the attitude in your heart.
Your Next Step
Take 5–10 minutes today and write down a memory of when someone's generosity deeply blessed you. Maybe it was a meal when you had nothing. Maybe it was a word of encouragement when you felt invisible. Maybe it was someone believing in you when you didn't believe in yourself.
Let that memory stir something in you. Let it awaken the joy of giving that God has already planted in your heart.
Let's Pray Together
Lord, fill my heart with the joy of generosity. Remove every trace of reluctance, fear, or pressure, and replace it with gladness, gratitude, and authentic worship. Make my giving an overflow of my love for You and compassion for others. Let my heart smile as I release what You've already blessed me with. Amen.