Giving is the secret to living an abundant life. Last week we talked about how faith sets some individuals above the rest. Today we want to talk about giving and how it ushers some into the life of abundance.
According to Luke 6:38 (NIV) 38. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
The word of God is saying if you give something, the very same thing you have given will multiply. God will multiply it, God will make sure to create more room for that blessing until it’s enough for you and even overflow to your friends and family. Everyone will begin to benefit from the same blessing. Let’s note that this scripture is specific, what you give is what multiples.
For example, if you give money the blessing that you will get back is money. If its food you gave, it will overflow back to you in food items.
We see Elijah saying to the widow of Zarephath give me food, the woman says she has only a very small amount of food left for one day, then wait to die of hunger. She, however, cooked the Man of God that last meal. But because she gave food, her blessing came back in form of over supply of food.
Thus the scripture above give us a secret, if you want financial deliverance give in form of money no matter how little it might seem and the same measure of finances will multiply back to you.
Matthew 6 v 3 another secret of giving is when you give the right hand should not know what the left hand has given. What the scripture is emphasising is that giving should be done in secrecy. When you give don't let everyone know what you have given or how much you are giving. One should try by all means not to publicly announce what you give. As the bible says you will have already gotten human reward of being glorified but if you give in secret you will get God's reward.
This is where a lot of us Christians make mistakes because we usually announce to the public what we give and we try by all means that everyone gets to know of our giving practices be it pledges, seeds, offerings and Pastor's welfares. So one should try by all means to give in secret in order to get God's reward.
- Airports Company strikes mega hotel deal
- In Full – Zimbabwe 42nd Independence Day speech by President Mnangagwa, April 18, 2022
- Airports Company strikes mega hotel deal
- In the groove: Darram Kalanga: An unsung music legend
Keep Reading
2 Kings 4:8-12, 14, 16 (CEV) 16. Elisha said to her, "Next year at this time, you'll be holding your own baby son in your arms." "You're a man of God” The woman saw the need in a man of God. Maybe she saw that each time the man of God came into the city he had no safe and secure place to sleep. She saw a gap that needed urgent closing. In return the Man of God was touched by her act of giving that the Man of God asked what he could give the woman in return. His servant Gehazi said the woman was barren hence the prophet promised that she shall have a child. Hence if you touch the heart of a servant of God doors open for you as servants of God represent God.
This is the same concept that was used by Mary Magdalene the well-known harlot in Mark 14:3-9 (CEV). She came at Jesus' feet and washed his feet with tears and anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume. The woman used very expensive perfume such that even Judas Iscariot complained that the prostitute should rather have given to the poor. Her giving changed her story completely as Jesus said she shall be remembered for anointing him before his crucifixion up to now her story is being read and preached from generation to generation. So when you give, give something meaningful and valuable.
Another form of giving is through tithe and offering. In Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) 30. 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. God clearly shows that a tenth of your income is to be given back to his house. This potion is to make sure there is provision in the house of God. The main beneficiaries being the Levites as they were not given inheritance and worked in the house of God. In this generation, the Levites are now the pastors, bishops, apostle, prophets and teachers of the word of God. This tithe is also used to provide for widows and orphans in the house of God. In Malachi 3:8-10 (CEV). God takes tithing very serious to the extent of saying that those who don't tithe are robbing Him. God even put a promise to those who faithfully tithe, that He will open windows of heaven.
He writes it as a challenge to mankind and He further promises protection to our incomes and endeavors. The issue with tithing is not that God needs money, He can even supply servants of God supernaturally like He did to Elijah or how he supplied manna to the Israelites in the wilderness. But tithing tests your obedience.
As children of God we are required to make sure that we give to the house of God and make sure His house is in order. Haggai 1:4-9 (NIV) 4. Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? 5. Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 7. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9. You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? Declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. The scripture above clearly shows if you give towards church projects the Lord will make sure that your income is well protected. But if you fail to look after God's things you will see that your wallet will seem to have holes and you achieve nothing. It is important to note that faithfulness in giving opens doors in many areas of our lives.
The secret in giving is being obedient and being selfless. It is an act of sacrifice. In the scripture God gave his only beloved son so that mankind can be redeemed. This shows us that giving is love and God is love. This teaches us to think of others and Helps to kill self in us.
Acts 10:3-4 (NIV) 3. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" 4. Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Cornelius lived a life of giving. He committed himself to giving to poor. Giving can guarantee you attention from God as we pray. Next week we are going to continue with the topic of giving so that we can have a more understanding of the power of giving. Some of the breakthroughs we are fasting and praying for can only be released when we give.
*Prosper Tingini is the Scribe of the Children of God Missionary Assembly - God’s messengers. Contact details: Mobile & whatsapp – 0771 260 195. Email address: [email protected]
