G.I.V.E.

Luke 6:³⁸ “Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give.” (The Voice)

The heart is so, so important in giving. You must have heard it said that you can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. And that is so true. Do you know how to spell love? Love is spelt G.I.V.E., and that is how God set up the economy of heaven. Pastor, does this work like a spiritual vending machine? The first thing to note is that this is not gambling. God is not the gambler. This is how the economy of heaven works. So, it is not about giving to get a blessing. It is about giving to be a blessing – a huge difference! You do not give to get a blessing; you give to be a blessing. You do not give, stretch out your hands to heaven and say, “I have given, now give me mine!” That is giving to get. You give to be a blessing.

Giving to get is like having a bucket full of water, let’s say water is the blessing, and then you pour it on whoever or wherever. Then you go back to God with three buckets and say, “Now give me more than I gave.” Giving to be a blessing is like being a conduit. It is like being a pipe. You see yourself as a channel of God’s blessing. So, as you are giving, God is pumping in more, and you are giving, and God is pumping in more. The cycle is unending. The pipe that carries the water (the blessing) does not stay dry as you know. The pipe that carries the water does not go thirsty; it always has enough to drink (if pipes can drink water).

Proverbs 11:²⁴ “Some people give generously and end up with more, while others don’t give what they should and end up poor.” (NCV paraphrased, emphasis added). Guess what? Where you are today is the result of what you chose to give yesterday. And it is not a determinant of where you will be tomorrow. Where you will be tomorrow is based on what you are doing (giving) today. It is what you are doing today that will determine where you will be tomorrow. Some people do not give what they should today and tomorrow they end up poor. But if you give generously today, and tomorrow you will end up with more. That is what the Bible says.

Proverbs 19:¹⁷ “When you give (generously) to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back.” (NCV, emphasis and words added). Giving is an investment. Many of us give hard-earned money to investment managers, hoping that by the end of the season, they will give us back with interest. God is the most reliable investment manager, give it to Him.

Prayer: Father, empower me to give without ceasing, in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!