The art of relationship building, i. e. covenant making, is founded on the idea of mutual giving. Since giving something you have is a loss of that thing, giving is a sacrifice. Covenant makers focused on receiving will never have a successful relationship, and strife will be their master. Dissolution of the relationship is likely, if not certainly, the expected outcome. When one gives, another receives, but receiving is never the end game. As covenant relationships become more solemn and of a higher order, the requirement for giving increases. As the mandatory level of giving increases, the covenant relationship climbs to a higher level while the importance and value of receiving decreases. Covenants are entered only by giving, never on the basis of what will be received. The level of required giving defines the level of the covenant.