The Art of Giving
Deborah Randall

	Giving was a very large part of the life of Christ. He gave miracles, healing, instructions, wisdom, charity and His life for mankind. The Word says in Luke 6:38, "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."

	When one gives money or any blessing to others, God's Word promises a full measure of return. A measure packed down so there will be room for more, shaken together in order to be more compact, and running over so the return of the gift will overflow the original gift of the giver. The one that is liberal in giving to others will find others liberal in return. One is really lending to God and God always repays. Great benefits await a giver. When one sows plentifully, one will reap bountifully.

	This Scripture is a powerful promise! God's Word cannot lie so when one gives, one will receive. The law of the harvest is to plant a seed and reap a stalk full of seeds. God's interest rates will totally beat any interest rate that a bank can ever give. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reads, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

	God's Word encourages one to give, but it also engages God Himself to reward those that do. One should not do it for the reward, but the reward is imminent because it is a promise from the Word of God. One must give out of a cheerful heart of generosity. A closed fist will never receive the blessings of a giver.

	The heart is more likely to give than the head. The mind will talk one's heart right out of giving and right out of receiving a blessing for doing so. Follow the prompting of your heart. Act on the first impulse of feeling. A cheerful giver is one who joyously volunteers promptly to give.

	Several weeks ago a church in another city had a need. God prompted me to give to this need. I gave the set amount to the church. A few weeks after my donation, a person came to visit me. They informed me that during their morning prayer God prompted them to give me a certain amount of money. They assured me that they were following the leading of the Lord in giving the money to me. When I counted the money, it was ten times more than I gave to the church in need. God's Word does not fail and His rewards are great!

	I gave to another need during a church service one night and the very next day the exact amount of what I gave was placed into my hand. My husband tried to buy me a very expensive purse on our 30th wedding anniversary. I declined. After he passed away my daughter and I were shopping one day and she said, "Mom, why don't you buy yourself that purse?"

	I answered her that I could not do that as long as there were missionaries in need. A few days later a missionary letter arrived stating a financial need. I gave to the need. A few more days went by, and I received a phone call from a friend. She informed me that someone had given her numerous shoes and purses. Many were brand new. She asked me if I would like to come and pick out what I wanted. When I arrived the selection was amazing! The purses that I desired but would not buy were not only in the give away box but they were brand new with the tags still in them. God gave me back in purses and shoes that day more than I would have ever bought. He saw the giving of the heart and He rewarded it plentifully, pressed down, running over and shaken together. I was in amazement at the reward I gleaned from the missionary offering. It again was a blessing multiplied by ten times, if not a little more.

	If one gives because of show while others watch or out of necessity because of what others will think, then the reward is lost. One cannot be sorry to part with whatever is given because God loves the giver to be happy in doing for others.

	Churches that give are churches that have revival! Giving is more than monetary. Giving through prayer, fasting and finances makes a church mature, stable and blessed. Bless a man of God, and God will bless you! Giving broadens one's horizons! The spirit of giving brings a season of blessings!

	God gave His life for mankind so that mankind could have life. He gave it all. What an example He left for us to follow! Give joyfully and generously and live blessed. Mark 9:41 reads, "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."

Deborah Randall pastors Victory Lighthouse Church in Abbeville, Louisiana.

This article “The Art of Giving” by Deborah Randall was excerpted from: Apostolic Witness magazine. May 2008. It may be used for study & research purposes only.