I once heard a fictitious story about a man who fell inside a pit. His friends and those around him attempted to help him out of the pit by asking him to bring his hands so they could lift him out. He was not answering them. Bothered, his friends went home to call his wife about the situation.
When the wife got there, she told them to watch and see what she would do. The wife simply said; “Honey, take my hands.” Immediately, the man grabbed his wife’s hands, and off he was lifted out of the pit. The man only understands the language of receiving.
Friend, don’t be the receiver general of the kingdom. Like the young man in our opening story, a lot of people only understand the language of taking or receiving, not the language of giving. This is probably why they would not receive anything. Giving and receiving work together (Philippians 4:15). Your problem is not with receiving. It is with giving. You cannot receive what you have not given (Galatians 6:7-9).
No prayer can make a farmer reap the harvest of a seed that he has not sown (Genesis 8:22). Stop attempting to get by prayer what can only answer to principles. Prayer only quickens your seed. It is not a substitute for it. If you pray so well without giving, you would be very spiritual and anointed, but also very poor (2 Kings 4:1).
Praying people should learn to give and giving people should learn to pray. They are not mutually exclusive. Notice the words of God via the angel to Cornelius, and you would appreciate the place of combing prayer and giving (Acts 10:1-4). God remembers your giving as much as He remembers your prayer (Psalms 20:3-4).
Giving is a grace. But it is also a discipline and a habit. While God supplies the grace, you must put in the discipline until it becomes a habit (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). It is not first about what you have. It is about who you are. Are you a giver or a receiver? Giving positions you correctly in the kingdom supply system. What you give triggers what you receive (Luke 6:38).
Rather than wanting to be a better receiver, you should want to be a better giver (Acts 20:35). Givers are receivers. When God blesses you, don’t only raise your standard of living. Also, raise your standard of giving. Your financial increase should reflect in your giving, not only in your living. Don’t just look good; do good (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Did you hear?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria