God rewards faithful givers
By Osondu Anyalechi

Giving is difficult especially when we have very little and what affects it adversely is that, most of the time, unlike most ministries, it is done in secret. A singer is admired because people see and listen to him. Preachers’ mastery of the Word also earns them respect. But like the Prayer ministry, little is known of those who give to God.

Three types of givers can be identified: Those who give to attract public ovation and for personal aggrandizement; those who give as an investment, believing that God will reward them. He does. And those who give because they love God. The first type can give a fragment of what they intend to, if it will not be announced while the second category may backslide if their quick expectation turns ashes in their mouth. The third group does not expect any reward, their attitude is driven by the fact that God gave us His only Son and that no person can out-give Him. A woman of Shunem belonged to this class. She used what God gave her to serve Him. One day, she offered lunch to Elisha and Gehazi, his servant. Perhaps, the speed and manner they devoured the food, not only impressed her, but revealed their need and intensity of hunger. She made it a ministry, feeding them any day they were passing by.

Her motivation, certainly, was not her riches since we know that giant projects in the Church are not always financed by the rich in cash but those rich towards God. That benevolence was not announced anywhere. As we grow in the body and purse, so also should our giving habit. That was her experience. Not contented in feeding them daily, she opted for a higher level of giving by building them a place of residence, not minding the cost of building materials. She discussed it with her husband and he gave his consent. Women, who sponsor projects, should learn from her humility. This is what submission is all about.
When we are interested in God and His things, He does the same for us. Elisha sought from her what she needed, such as, recommendation to the Governor or head of the Army for some benefits – contracts or national honour.

She turned down the offer since her giving was pro deo and not for cash. Having provoked God’s love in giving, Heaven did not rest on its oars till her need was met. ‘What do we do for her?’ was the resounding question. Gehazi revealed that she had no child. Imagine! While other needy women like her, would be grumbling that God had disappointed them, her preoccupation was to make sacrifices to God. Her giving was not a seed or investment to get children but made solely to God, a gesture borne out of her deep love.

Elisha prophesied that within 12 months, she would be a happy mother. God was faithful to His Prophet. One day, the child was sick and his father sent him to his wife for care. It is only a man that has confidence in his wife that can do so. And it is only a responsible wife that can be trusted to that extent. Painfully, the child died. A Christian is not free from devil’s attack. What will you do, God forbid, if you were her? We give because we love God and love builds confidence. That was her lot as she carried the corpse, not of a stranger but her only child, and deposited it on the Minister’s bed before going to inform him. First of all, she obtained her husband’s permission. Some wives do many things without their husbands’ knowledge. Realizing his spiritual content, led by wisdom, she did not disclose to him the tragedy that befell them.

Whether he was a believer or not, he was acquainted with her Church programmes and was even surprised she that was visiting the Minister. He went ahead and gave her a car and driver. Some husbands would rather suspect the relationship with the Pastor.
When she was still far away, Elisha saw her and sent Gehazi to find out her need. This is how God is mindful of those that heart and purse to Him and will send His ministering angels for their need. Her faith response, ‘It is well’, not minding the corpse at home, is praiseworthy. Her faith grew. When Elisha prophesied about the child God would give, she doubted it. Her response ‘It shall be well’ to her husband’s question though futuristic, was a growth in faith. Her reply, ‘It is well’, irrespective of what the eyes could see, demonstrated growth to the next level. Mindful not to disgrace God, she reserved her emotions till she met the Prophet. Of course her dead son came back to life.

God will never forget our labour of love. The quality of the seed we sow, all things being equal, determines our harvest. Rahab, a lady of easy virtue, sowed her seed in protecting two children of God hunted in Jericho, and harvested absolute protection for herself and entire family. No farmer sows one seed and harvests two seeds but hundreds of them. There were other women, who had better food and rooms but did not give any to God, but she did. At the end of the day, all her sacrifices to God meant nothing compared with the gift of a son and raising of him. May we not be weary in giving to God and to our fellow men.
For further comment, contact Osondu Anyalechi:0802-3002-471; <anyalechiosondu@yahoo.com