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.

You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

If anyone comes to you and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,

for he who welcomes him participates in his evil deeds.

Stay away from a foolish man, for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.

Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger,

lest you learn his ways and ensnare your soul.

Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person.

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”

A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

She weeps bitterly in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They have become her enemies.

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us.

The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning,

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

For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.

A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.

Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD.

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.

I hate the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.

If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;

Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his Torah he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?

This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.

For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit.

We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—

my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,

He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a lame foot.

If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.

Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.

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

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,

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

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

without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;

who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.

Prayer