“You can’t out-give God.” Can we believe that? When we give so much over to God, does He really give us even more?

Certainly the Maker, Owner, and Director of the Universe can give abundantly. He owns all the silver and gold (Hag 2:8), and “cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps 50:10). He holds the power to direct kings’ hearts (Pro 21:1) and history’s course (Dan 2:20-21), as well as the circumstances of our little lives (Pro 16:9; Jer 10:23).

The question isn’t “Can He?” but “Does He, will He?”

His Promises, My Experiences

His word promises He will. And as I trusted His promises by obeying their conditions, early in my Christian life, I watched them bloom into life. Time after time, when I gave something over to God, He either re-provided it in kind or substituted something better.

Later, when I began trusting Malachi 3:10 by tithing, God supplied not only needs but also delightful extras. Though living “hand-to-mouth,” I received extensive needed dental work in that mouth, frequent professional flower arrangements on my table, a brand new car to drive on my rounds, and finer clothes and better cuts of meat for myself and my child than in many previous years.

Offerings beyond tithes sometimes made astounding return trips, in the spirit of Luke 6:38 and Philippians 4:19. For instance, when I scrapped plans for a seemingly extravagant marble kitchen counter in favor of food for needy people, a small investment fund returned a surprise increase equal to the counter’s price. Later in time, right after I (with my husband) relinquished funds we’d set asisde for a special anniversary celebration, the same amount of money came back to us via a restitution order for property damage. More recently still, the day my husband sent off his non-refundable deposit for a short-term mission trip, the mailman later delivered an unexpected medical refund for exactly the same amount.

Beyond the Monetary

But that’s all stuff, or money. God’s promises held just as true for needs beyond the material. My long-ago surrendering to wherever God might want me to live landed me in just the kind of setting I would have chosen. More recently having relinquished my deteriorating vision to His will, I now learn I may soon enjoy better vision than I’ve had since fourth grade! And Who knows what outcome may result from my willingly closing doors to opportunity that integrity before God has lately compelled me to close? Even if God opens no doors to any new earthly opportunity, I can trust God for some kind of related blessing beyond this life.

Following Christ can cost. Trusting God may require relinquishing beloved possessions and earthly hopes—and not all the returns will arrive in this lifetime. And those returns we do receive on earth may come with persecutions (Mt 19:27-30; Mk 10:28-31). But sooner or later, now or in eternity, He gives back, and gives greater. No, you can’t out-give God.