Nobody wants to be loved like that.

Nobody wants to be loved out of duty.

People want to be loved joyfully.

They want to be told the reason I came to you is because it makes me happy to be with you.

People want to be loved out of gladness,

not begrudgingly. Just ask yourself, do you feel more loved when somebody does a good deed for you

begrudgingly or cheerfully? You feel more loved when they do it cheerfully, not begrudgingly.

Why does God love a cheerful giver?

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper explains from 2. Corinthians 9-7 that God delights in joyful giving because it transforms generosity into an act of worship that both

honors him and blesses others. The sermon was originally given at Trinity Baptist

Church in Wheaton, Illinois on September 20th, 1988. 2nd Corinthians 9 says, verse 7,

Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion

for God loves a cheerful giver.

I take that to mean that God is not pleased when people act benevolently but not gladly.

God is not pleased when people act benevolently but not gladly,

which is why I said that I confess sin first when I feel myself disinclined to stop to help somebody on the road.

I think I displeased God by that disinclination, which is why I said last night that

Christian hedonism is a devastating doctrine. Its standards are so high that I recognize constantly

what a sinner I am, falling so far short of what my affections ought to be in the area of love

for other people. That constant confession

of sin is my lifestyle. Toward my children, I sin toward my children probably more than anybody

else because of my lack of spontaneous affection and patience and love and the quickness of

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