Today I want to speak about something deeply spiritual: the stewardship of the life God has given you. It goes beyond our usual seasonal focus on time, treasures, and talents. It is about how we live each day and how we offer ourselves to the world

Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that “God loves a cheerful giver.” The word cheerful comes from the Greek hilaros—the root of our word hilarious. God is not looking for giving done with clenched fists or reluctant hearts. He delights in people who give with joy, freedom, and generosity.

When you truly love someone, you don’t need to be forced to bless them. You enjoy it. Giving becomes an expression of love. That is what God desires from us: not pressure, guilt, or mere obligation, but worship. This is not limited to church giving. It includes how we give to our families, neighbors, nation, and the world.

No one can draw you a map on how to turn thanks‑living into thanksgiving. Part of the joy of Christian stewardship is that you get to shape it yourself. Everything we have—our time, abilities, opportunities, finances, homes, and resources—comes from God. When we give, we are simply saying, “God, thank You. What You’ve placed in my hands, I want to use for Your purposes.”

Our human nature sometimes pulls us toward holding back. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our giving reveals our hearts. If we regularly ask, “What’s the least I can give?” we are approaching generosity with the wrong mindset. As God’s people, blessed beyond measure, the better question is, “Lord, how can I joyfully join in Your work?”

Hilarious generosity is not mainly about what leaves our hands—it is about what God is shaping in our hearts. And the beautiful truth is this: God needs nothing from us. He already owns it all. He is inviting us to join Him in blessing others, advancing the Gospel, caring for those in need, and investing in what lasts forever. So let us give—not because it is budget season, but because we experience God’s generosity every moment of every day.

God gave His very best in Jesus. When we understand that kind of love, generosity is no burden. We can give joyfully, freely, generously, even hilariously.

Let us pray: “Lord, thank You for every blessing You’ve placed in our hands. Teach us to hold Your gifts with open hands and generous hearts. Help us give with joy, not pressure; with gratitude, not obligation; and with faith, knowing You are faithful to provide. Use what e give to bless all people you have put into our lives. Use our giving to advance Your Kingdom in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”