It is amazing how the great number of things we do physically play huge roles in our spiritual lives. And there are spiritual repercussions (good or bad) which reflects in our lives overall.
For example, it may not make sense how reading the Bible affects our lives initially. But as time accumulates, we begin to see the transformation from inside out. What we didn’t realize from the start is that our spirit man was eating and drinking from the bread and water of life as we read our bibles.
The same way it may not make sense that a March round a city’s wall seven times plus blowing trumpets will cause it to crumble. Well it just may be more spiritual than it meets the eye. The March round the wall seven times had activated certain things or disarmed the spiritual forces standing against the possession of the gates of Jericho by the Israelites. see here for the full story
What I am trying to say is that spiritual intelligence is as important as emotional intelligence and self awareness.
I will be sharing my knowledge about sacrificial giving from a spiritual and maybe physical perspective on this blog post. It is noteworthy that sacrificial giving doesn’t only mean giving money, our tithes or first fruits. It could be our time, our skills, our lives to a cause. As a christian, most likely giving towards a cause that glorifies God.
Let’s get into it, shall we?
- Sacrifice is a covenant in the spirit– Psalm 50:5, says Gather to me this consecrated people,who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. This implies that there is a certain way God views people who make sacrifices just to please God or to serve Him or to be of service to mankind. God views such individuals as sacred and He recognizes such sacrifices as a commitment. Abraham is one of these men God viewed as sacred who sparingly and willingly gave his only son, Isaac to God. And God hence made a covenant with Him to bless him and his generation because of his act of giving sacrificially. see here for the full story. David is another man who lived a life of sacrifice for God’s sake and God loved him dearly and committed to keep helping him and his children. Hannah also gave her first child, Samuel to God and God blessed her with more children.
2. Secret giving is a lot more effective and rewarding– I have come to realize that the world in which we live is governed by certain principles such as the law of attraction- the theory that we attract the the things we constantly think about to ourselves. I believe that is why God has told us to constantly meditate on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,excellent or praiseworthy.-Philippians 4:8
Another of these principles is giving with your right hand and not letting your left hand know about it. When we give up food to wait upon the lord or when we give whatever to somebody, the world does not necessarily need to know. Let it be between you and your God, He sees you and definitely would bless your cheerful giving. The scripture describes one who gives and announces to the world as one who has received his reward already ( supposed fame for charity)
But if such an individual keeps mute about it, great is His reward from God. the Matthew 6:1-4
Therefore, my advice is as we give in our capacity, let us give with humility, let us give with our mouths shut. Let honor our actions
3. Signifies the fear of God – Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac and he did. God must have been really proud of him. God acknowledged that Abraham really did fear and honor God through his act of obedience and willingness to sacrificially give his only son. As true and powerful as the word of God is, it says that ‘‘true humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life”- Proverbs 22:4
And Abraham really did enjoy riches, honor and long life. Abraham’s sacrificial giving was a pointer to his reverence for God and he was rewarded greatly for this.
4.The more you give, the more you receive– Another principle of this world that holds so true. For example, the more you study for a test, the more likely to get a really good grade on the test. I know this for sure that people who are not willing to help or give, get the same kind of treatment.
The world is spherical, hence what goes round, sure comes back round. My advice is to give sparingly, cheerfully because givers will definitely reap bountifully sooner than they expect it. God Himself, said He would ensure this. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you–Luke 6:38. And God is not a man that He should lie.
5.Gives a man immunity from certain things– The bible tells us that we should touch not God’s anointed one and do him no harm. God’s anointed ones are characterized with certain traits such living lives of sacrifice, like sacrificing quality time with family, or sacrificing careers to propel the gospel and so on. This doesn’t permit them to live in sin, but I believe God deals with them differently because God is a just God. An example is Moses who married a Cushite woman.Miriam and Aaron spoke ill about Moses and Miriam was punished. See Numbers 12 for the full story
6.Our bodies can be given sacrificially to God, in fact it’s a form of worship to God when we do – Like I have mentioned earlier, giving is not just giving our tithes or offerings or making donations. It encompasses giving our bodies and lives to God in spirit and truth. Let us commit to living lives that pleases God. A life void of iniquity, a life in constant worship and pointer to the King of Kings is a living a sacrifice.
I believe this is the ultimate sacrifice any man can offer to God and man. I pray God keeps helping us to be living sacrifices.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship – Romans 12:1
7.Giving God our first fruits will amount to great wealth – These days, I hear a lot of arguments against tithing and offerings. Many people argue that many pastors squander the money, hence they do not give. In my opinion, find a living church then, a church where God is the chief director of affairs. There is no way a man of God who allows God direct the affairs of the church will squander the money.
Then give your tithes and offerings and key into the blessings that comes with being obedient and giving.
Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine – Proverbs 3:9-10
8. May be crushing but it is a process to make new wine Most times, giving sacrificially is not the easiest thing to do. It may cause discomfort, pain. But those days of fasting, sacrificing leisure to be with God,tithing and giving first fruit instead of getting that new device is a process.Moreover, these activities are activating keys in the spirit realm that we may not necessarily see now but the breakthroughs are just around the corner, trust God
Although it may seem hard to do now,It brings a life of ease in the near future. It may expose you to a period of lack but it will lead to open heavens, a period of abundance.
9.Triggers favour before men and God– Sacrificial giving triggers and unlocks keys in the spirit realm that we could probably not imagine. Queen Esther understood this, hence her sacrifice of food for three days in order to pray and wait on the lord to save the lives of her kindred. And indeed, God favored her, she also found favor before the king. That was how she was able to save her people. There really is power in fasting and praying which is a form of giving. You could read the full story here and here
10.Eternal victory– Jesus! Our role model. He is the epic example of a life of sacrifice, He left His comfort and throne above in the heavens, to come live with us mortal men. He endured so much pain, was bruised so that we can live in health. He gave His live for our redemption. In the end He overcame and made a public show of principality and He is forever exalted above, seated God at His right hand. If this is not encouraging, I do not know what is.
He made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Philippians 2:7-10
I pray that the Lord Himself, directs us to give wisely, the strength to give when we are required,the grace to present our bodies as living sacrifices and long life to enjoy the blessings that come with giving in Jesus name.
I’ve been blessed
Amen 🙂