“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. “ Luke 6:38 

Giving provokes the law of exchange into operation. Giving touches every aspect of life and creation. Even the land gave to reap harvest today. When God wanted to create man, the land voluntarily gave itself as a material and today anyone who dies whether rich, poor, presidents, diplomats and ambassadors, they will all go back to the ground as a harvest.    

Offering answers to our immediate and future needs. Solomon gave to God (1 Kings 3) and God met all his needs. God personally asked for an offering. It was not man’s idea. It is God’s idea, His thought and plan. So, offering is spiritual and must be seen as such by everyone who wants to move from the life of mediocrity to a higher level. 

“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering:  of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,” Exodus 25:2-3 

“And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” Genesis 27:1-4     

There are many questions one would ask from these scriptures: 

– Why did Isaac ask for an offering or venison before he would release the blessing on his first son whose right it was to inherit whatever he would leave behind?

– Was Esau a better cook than his mother? 

– Why did Isaac not ask his wife to prepare him a good meal? 

– Does Isaac love food so much that he can’t bless his son without asking for food?

– Does giving him (Isaac) has anything to do with the release of the blessing? 

All these are questions a wise man should ask himself to better understand the mystery behind offering. To offer is to sacrifice; and you offer to the one higher. If your offering  does not pain you, it will not pay you! Your offering is to the one you owe honor, respect and allegiance to, or to Whom you belong. There is something about offering and glory we need to understand : 

“And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you. And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.” Leviticus 9:1-6 . 

Offering and giving is a commanded endeavor and when obeyed activates the glory. If you did not give what heaven commands, heaven will not release what you will command. 

“Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:27-29. 

Bring the glory you have for you to receive His better glory. “Release yours and receive His “. Offering is a glory due to Him. You can now see why in Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphire died in the temple because they wanted to take the glory of God (Isaiah 42:8). 

The Bible says nobody should come to the presence of God empty-handed. If you come empty, you will go empty! The widow who gave her widow’s mite in Luke 21:1-4. Jesus encouraged her to give because it was through her giving she would change her situation. 

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. “ Acts 20:35 

“It is more blessed to give than receive” 

Africans have changed this scripture to accommodate and suit their greediness and stinginess. “They say it is more blessed to receive than to give “. Africans have become professional receivers and not professional givers. The person who gives you rules you. That is why the western world are still commanding and imposing all kinds of laws on Africa with the threat of removing their support if we say no. The time has come for Africans to say no because we have gotten the revelation of giving…

This text is an extract from the book “ 33 pillars and mysteries of blessings in the kingdom of God ” written by Victor Charles OKAFOR.

We invite you to read the following article “ DILIGENCE, PRAYER, AND FASTING “.