Numbers 7:3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

When Moses was collecting stuff to be used in making the tabernacle, there were rather large things used to collect the items – carts!

We should never be shy or worried about giving to God because we know how much He is willing and able to give to us; but it’s not about how much you can give so you can get back!

God wants people to show Him love and respect, one part of that is through giving back to Him!

Genesis 32:18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’

When Jacob was preparing to meet Esau, he was worried Esau may be angry with him, so he sent a bunch of gifts ahead of him to try and pacify Esau.

What sort of occasions do you wait for before you give a gift to someone else? Do you wait until you are so worried you go out and spend all your money, or do you give gifts early?

Sometimes it is the smallest of gifts given early on which make the biggest impressions – don’t wait until you think you have no hope left before seeking gifts!

Matthew 6:2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Gifts are not all about receiving, but about giving as well. Think of the pleasure you get when you are able to give something to someone when they really need it!

And it is not all about giving in front of other people so they can see how great a giver you are; but about the secret giving when you are fulfilling a need – maybe a need which is not public!

God see everything and is just – He knows who are the people who are doing the real giving and those who are giving to lift themselves up.