As typical of most children, I observed then that my daughter always found it difficult to release what’s in her hands even if I was the one who gave her. Just after she finishes what’s in her hands, she would come asking for mine. Surprising to her, I would give her as much as she wanted. She changed afterwards; now even before I tease her to give me stuff, she would release it. She has understood that she cannot outgive me.
Friend, you cannot outgive God. This understanding must be your consciousness if you would relate properly with God. The possibilities and provisions in God cannot truly be quantified (Ephesians 3:20). What we give to God is only but a fragment of what He has given to us. Truly, it is a sign of immaturity to struggle to give to the One who gave us what we have and who would still give us what we would ever have (John 1:16, 1 Corinthians 4:7).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave…” (John 3:16). God was introduced here as the One who loves and the One who gives. God’s giving to us is never transactional, it was love motivated. This knowledge should undergird our giving and living with God; it should not be transactional but love motivated. This is the secret to reckless, unreserved giving; for if we give transactionally, we would measure our giving by what we get in return. But if it is motivated by love, we do it for love sake.
“And he said, Take now your son, your only son…” (Genesis 22:2). God will never demand from you if He has not supplied. This means that you cannot outgive God. Every demand to give to God is a reflection and testimony of what He has already given us. Not only did the story of Abraham mirrored what God has already done for us through Christ, it also evidently showed that the ram that Abraham was to sacrifice was already caught and reversed before he set out (Genesis 22:13-14).
There is no giving in God that does not return to us in miracle fold harvests (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). This is why we cannot really call any act or giving a sacrifice because when we view it in terms of what God has given us and what He would yet give us in return, it is not near sacrifice. The Christian faith is normally and naturally sacrificial. Sacrifice began it and it can only be successfully led by the same token of sacrifice (2 Samuel 24:24, John 1:29, 3:16)
God is inexhaustible. He is the El-Shaddai (Ephesians 3:20). You cannot suck Him dry. He is more than the vast ocean. Walking in this understanding would help you to approach God’s table of provision with audacity of faith and boldness. You would not pity God’s storehouse as you make demands on the already made available supply. With this, you also know that God’s blessings on your neighbour does not affect yours. The same Lord is rich over all who calls on Him (Romans 10:12).
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria