Our Lord Jesus “for the joy set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame”. Christ’s patient endurance is the great example that Christians should follow. We may not be able to do it perfectly but if joy is “grace recognized” then Christians giving to others because Christ gave Himself for them is a source of joy. Joy, rejoicing, grace, favor are all cognates. If mercy projects are denigrated because they make the donor have a sense of joy, then all stewardship emphasis should be stopped now. Anything related to the joy of giving should be expunged and we need to find a motivation for giving that will help donors feel miserable.
