Begin to give out of the freedom of it, out of the joy of it. Giving is about partnering with God to make a real difference in people’s lives. It’s not about guilt. In fact, a little bit earlier in 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about a church that even though they were very poor gave out of generosity to help other churches and other places. “And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us” (2 Corinthians 8:5). First, they gave themselves fully to God and then out of that commitment they were able to give generously to others who had real needs.