*The Value of Giving*

Isaiah 57:17
“Because of the iniquity of his [Judah’s] covetousness and unjust gain, I was angry and struck him. I hid my face and was angry, and he kept turning away and backsliding in the way of his [own willful] heart.”

When people are encouraged to spend their money on non-living things, like clothes, expensive watches, and luxury furniture, they often do so happily. However, when asked to give or spend money on living beings—such as widows, orphans, needy individuals, or their pastor—they hesitate and think carefully before making that decision.

“The Bible teaches that God hides His face from those who are covetous and chase after material possessions. ”

Our first love should be Jesus Christ. Our words and attitudes have the power to influence our entire being. By declaring daily that we do not love our material possessions more than Jesus, we prepare ourselves to give willingly. Whenever Jesus calls us to surrender something, we can do so joyfully.

Imagine one day while praying, God asks you to help an orphan, but you don’t have any money except for a gold chain. If God asks you to sell your favorite one, you should be prepared to do it. Many people who do not pray or commune with Jesus regularly may delay or refuse to act when called to give, and as a result, become disobedient.

In Exodus 25:1-2, God instructed the Israelites to give offerings for the tabernacle, requiring every person to give willingly and without complaint. This willingness occurs when a heart seeks God more than worldly possessions.

* Here are some benefits of giving:
* Giving breaks the grip of greed from your heart.
* Giving can lead to a longer life, as God knows that some widows and orphans need you on this Earth, as seen in the story of Tabitha in Acts 9:36-41.
* Giving allows angels to visit you, exemplified by the story of Cornelius, the Gentile man in Acts 10:1-4.
* Giving can break the bondage of barrenness, as demonstrated by the Shunammite woman who cared for the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4:8-15.
* Giving is a key that unlocks encounters with God through your dreams, as experienced by King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:4-5.
* Giving unlocks the favor of God.

Let us strive to be generous and willing givers, putting God first in all things.