SKILLS AND GIFTS – PART 2
PROVERBS 18: 16 - A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great (NIV)
Gift is a seed both to the giver and the recipient. This means that when you give, you are actually sowing and someday the harvest would come. The bible says “Give and it shall be given unto you…” and in the corollary, do not give and it shall not be given unto you. Unfortunately, there are many who do not give but wishes to receive. God forbid, the bible says that “God forbid, whatever a man soweth, that he shall reap”. Sow plenty, reap plenty; sow nothing, receive nothing. Interestingly, because the harvest is always in the multiples of twenties; thirties; sixties; hundreds and thousands, it means your harvest of nothing or something would be in multiples.
Whatever the bible says if you check it out there would be examples of people of old whose experiences have demonstrated this. Let us look at a couple of examples.
- Let us look at God the father. The bible says for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son… (Jn.3:16). The Son, our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified in order to reconcile God with mankind. Of course, while the Lord gave one, He through this act drew billions of people to Himself. Could you imagine how many billions of Christian that would have been lost if God has not given our Lord Jesus Christ?
- Our second case study is the account of a boy that gave his lunch pack to the Lord when there was need to feed the audience of our Lord Jesus Christ at a particular gathering. We were told that the boy gave (Matt. 14: 13 - 21) and the Lord of multiplication breath on it and over 5,000 men were fed beside the women and the children; with leftover of 12 baskets. Bible scholars believed that the Lord, based on His nature would have given the remaining 12 baskets to the boy.
- Another example that we can give is the case of Hannah (I Sam.1:21 – 28). The bible says that Hannah gave Samuel back unto God sincerely and sacrificially. The bible says in In 1 Sam. 1: 22 that Hannah was prepared to totally release Samuel to dwell in the presence of the Lord always. In place of Samuel that was sowed, God gave Hannah 6 more children (1 Sam. 2: 5).
There are many other examples of people that sowed in the bible through their acts of giving include and were appropriately rewarded. Beloved, we have a God who never lies and who would not owe any man. The bible says in Num. 19: 23 that God is a not a man that he should lie… The bible also says that we have a God who would not owe any man.
Are you a giver? Do you believe that you are receiving in return according to the word of God or you do not appear to be receiving according to your gifts? I mean, it appears that your gifts have actually not yielded the expected harvest? I urge you not to be discouraged as there is always a gestation period for every conception, including gifts.
The bible says you should not stop giving… because the bible says in… in Eccl. 11:1 that you should cast your bread upon the waters: for you shall find it after many days. Are you ready to wait? Many times, the length of your waiting period is commensurate with the size of your testimonies. So, if you are not prepared for a long waiting, then you may not be prepared for a great harvest. I pray that the Lord would open your eyes of understanding in Jesus name.
Shalom.
Dr. Yinka Okude
Parish Pastor
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampton
Hymn: Oh Worship The King All Glorious Above Hymn