I Samuel 2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
Hannah had wanted a son. She had begged God. She promised God that she would give her baby to the Lord for his entire life. Elkanah loved his wife. He also willingly offered his son to the Lord as his wife desired.
Then Eli, the man of God, made a promise. Go would give them seed, children. The reason given for the promise was the loan when she had given it to the Lord. They went home after that. It is like they heard great news and went back satisfied.
Notice that God is going to do something great in their lives, but the sacrifice was given before the promise. Hannah and Elkanah didn’t offer to get. They gave because they loved God. God gave back to them more than they had given because He is good.
Many of us serve God for what we can get. We do to get. We are hoping for a gift. Where is the love that says I will serve God because He is God? I love God for who He is and not what He does for me?