VERSES FOR OFFERINGS

Think about giving – it's truly beautiful in God's eyes. When you're preparing your offering, remember it should be your best, given with a sincere heart. It should be a joyful act, knowing how much God has already blessed us with, even when we don't deserve it. He's been incredibly generous, hasn't He?

If you only give what's leftover, well, life might just mirror that back to you. Think about it – give as if you're giving to yourself. Don't do it out of obligation or because you expect something in return. True giving comes from the heart.

Don't make a big show of it either. It's not about getting praised or patted on the back. Let your giving be a quiet act between you and God. He sees what's in your heart, and He loves a cheerful giver. Remember what it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Giving is an act of worship, a way to give back a portion of what God has already given us. And when God gives, He gives abundantly. When you offer from the heart, you're opening the door for even more blessings. The more you give, the more you receive. It's a beautiful cycle.

Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful

If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:

for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.

Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:

Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise: But the companion of fools shall smart for it.

but now I write unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.

He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Be not deceived: Evil company doth corrupt good manners.

A froward man scattereth abroad strife: And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend: But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

A man that is heretical after a first and second admonition refuse;

knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.

For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD: But his secret is with the upright.

A man of violence enticeth his neighbour, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.

Wealth addeth many friends: But the poor is separated from his friend.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate the LORD? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before the LORD.

Depart from me, ye evil-doers; That I may keep the commandments of my God.

I have not sat with vain persons; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.

I hate the congregation of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.

And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Be not thou envious against evil men, Neither desire to be with them.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

The righteous is a guide to his neighbour: But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night

And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Ye were running well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

This persuasion came not of him that calleth you.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.

If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood, Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

We shall find all precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

A scorner loveth not to be reproved: He will not go unto the wise.

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.

Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

A froward heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing.

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.

being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:

who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they which practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.

A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Prayer