Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 9:7

"[Let] each man [do] according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ASV)

Every man according as he purposes in his heart, etc. The main idea in this verse is that the act of giving should be voluntary and cheerful. It should not seem to be extorted by the persistent requests of others (2 Corinthians 9:6), nor should it be given from urgent necessity, but it should be given as an offering of the heart. On this part of the verse we may note:

1. That the heart is usually more concerned in the business of giving than the head. If liberality is shown, it will be the heart which prompts to it; if it is not shown, it will be because the heart has some bad passions to gratify and is under the influence of avarice, selfishness, or some other improper attachment. Very often a man is convinced he ought to give liberally, but a narrow heart and a miserly spirit prevent it.

2. We should follow the dictates of the heart in giving. I mean that a man will usually give more correctly who follows the first promptings of his heart when an object of charity is presented, than he will if he takes much time to deliberate. The instinctive prompting of a benevolent heart is to give liberally.

   And the amount which should be given will usually be suggested to a man by the better feelings of his heart. But if he resolves to deliberate much, and if he suffers the heart to grow cold, and if he defers it, the pleadings of avarice will come in, or some object of attachment or plan of life will rise to view, or he will begin to compare himself with others, and he will give much less than he would have done if he had followed the first impulse of feeling.

   God implanted the benevolent feelings in the heart that they should prompt us to do good; and he who acts most in accordance with them is most likely to do what he ought to do. In general, it is the safest and best rule for a man to give just what his heart prompts him to give when an object of charity is presented.

   Man at best is too selfish to be likely to give too much or to go beyond his means. If in a few instances it should be done, more would be gained in value in the cultivation of benevolent feeling than would be lost in money. I know of no better rule on the subject than to cultivate the benevolent feelings as much as possible, and then to throw open the soul to every proper appeal to our charity, and to give just according to the instinctive prompting of the heart.

3. Giving should be voluntary and cheerful. It should be from the heart. Yet there is much, very much that is not so, and there is, therefore, much benevolence that is fitful and spurious, that cannot be depended on, and that will not endure. No dependence can be placed on a man regarding giving who does not do it from the steady influences of a benevolent heart.

   But much is obtained in the cause of benevolence that is produced by a kind of extortion. It is given because others give, and the man would be ashamed to give less than they do. Or, it is given because he thinks his rank in life demands it, and he is prompted to it by pride and vanity.

   Or, he gives from respect to a pastor or a friend, or because he is warmly urged to give, or because he is constrained by a kind of necessity to give, and must give or he would lose his character and become an object of scorn and detestation. In all this there is nothing cheerful and voluntary, and there can be nothing in it acceptable to God. Nor can it be depended on permanently. The heart is not in it, and the man will evade the duty as soon as he can and will soon find excuses for not giving at all.

Not grudgingly. Greek, "Not of grief" (mh ek luphv). Not as if he were sorry to part with his money. Not as if he were forced to do a thing that was extremely painful to him.

Or of necessity. As if he were compelled to do it. Let him do it cheerfully.

For God loves a cheerful giver. And who does not? Valuable as any gift may be in itself, yet if it is forced and compelled, if it can be procured only after great insistence and persevering effort, who can esteem it as desirable? God desires the heart in every service.

No service that is not cheerful and voluntary, none that does not arise from true love to him, can be acceptable in his sight. God loves it because it shows a heart like his own—a heart disposed to give cheerfully and to do good on the largest scale possible, and because it shows a heart attached from principle to his service and cause.

The expression here has all the appearance of a proverb, and expressions similar to this occur often in the Scriptures. In an uninspired writer, also, this idea has been beautifully expanded: "In all your gifts show a cheerful countenance, and dedicate your tithes with gladness. Give to the Most High according as he has enriched you; and as you have gained, give with a cheerful eye. For the Lord rewards, and will give you seven times as much."—Wisdom of the Son of Sirach chapter 35:9–11. In nothing, therefore, is it more important than to examine the motives by which we give to the objects of benevolence. However liberal our gifts may be, yet God may see that there is no sincerity and may hate the spirit with which it is done.