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.” Luke 6:38(NIV)

Giving? Why should I give? I do not have enough of anything to give away may be some of the questions and statements you may be making.

You may have given and your kind gesture has been abused. Give is defined, to bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation. The acronym however reads, Guaranteed Investment with Victory Inspired and Nurtured of God.

Our Father is a principal giver. He gave Adam the garden of Eden. For our atonement, He gave us Jesus Christ (John 3:16). God also made us in His image (Genesis 1:26-28) and as giving is one of His image characteristic, we as His children must exhibit His giving character.  We can therefore give anything we have: time, money, talent or spiritual gifts.

Do not however give out of coercion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:11). You must give because God is a giver (John 3:16) and you are made in His image. You can give an “unusual offering”  when you have received specific instructions from God, which may or may not be affirmed by a person of God e.g the widow woman and Elijah (1 King 17:9) and third you give because your assessment assures you of a “holy man of God” e.g. Elisha and the Shunammite woman (2 Kings4:8-10) Never be pressurized into giving. Giving must come from your heart (2 Corinthians 9:11) FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE IS YOUR HEART BE ALSO (Luke 12:34)

Giving is a guaranteed investment with God and has benefits as noted in the scriptures above: God giving us His Son resulted in the salvation to all who believe in Him. The woman obeying God by releasing her meal to Elijah was enabled to walk in abundant supply to satisfy her needs. The Shunammite, who gave not expecting to receive anything in return, was blessed with a child.

Give cheerfully out of a willing heart and NEVER by coercion and your investment will bring you victory nurtured by God. Amen

Dr Rex