My experience with the subject of giving could be called a paradox. For years as a young husband and father, struggling to support a growing family, I would resist, even become upset every time the subject of giving came up. I readily admit that part of the problem was that I knew that I was not giving to support the cause of Christ as I should. However, there was another problem. So many times when the end of each year was approaching, the preacher would be asked by the elders to preach a sermon on giving. At times, the sermon would be based upon the budget, which the elders had apparently already prepared, or would be an apologetic approach to the subject. On one occasion, the preacher even apologized, saying, “I promise not to touch on this subject again this year.” I began to study the subject of giving from a biblical standpoint. I immediately recognized that we were creating an attitude of necessity, which is exactly what the Bible teaches not to do. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). What constitutes a cheerful giver? Do you remember the first time you had an opportunity to give a gift? What prompted that action, if not love? Love for a mother, father, friend or sweetheart makes the giving of a gift an exciting and cheerful act. How different from giving out of a