While growing up, I attended the Baptist Church in my town. It was typical in those days to come to church and see some fresh corn and tubers of yam laid on the altar. I didn’t understand what that meant or who brought them. As I matured a little more and took to reading the scriptures, I realized those produce were kept on the altar as first fruits by those who brought them. Israel of old was close to nature in that they farmed the land, and God gave them the law of the first fruits. Whenever their ground produced any crop, it was mandatory to give God first before they ate any of it. Doing otherwise would have made their bellies their gods.

While giving should be devoid of ostentations, it is nevertheless true that your giving makes a statement. When you give your tithes plus a lavish offering in proportion to God’s blessing in your life, you enthrone Him.  Giving is also an expression of trust. When you part with what you have, you are trusting God to further prosper you and meet your needs. When believers do not honour God in their tithes and offerings, they join the camp of unbelievers who are mostly ruled by their belly and addiction to sensual pleasures. If anyone needs further encouragement to give, it is found in our text. God promised to fill you to overflow if you follow His instruction to give.