Category
108 Offering and Tithes
Think about this: Christ loved us so much that he gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering to God.1 He made the ultimate sacrifice for you on the cross, loving you to death and beyond. Even as time marches on, His love stays constant.
It's so important for you to grasp that the biggest sacrifice has already been made. But now, you get to be a pleasing offering to God, too. Let your service, your honor, and your giving be a delight to your Heavenly Father. Know that Jesus has given you everything, and anything you offer pales in comparison to His love.
Giving to God, supporting His work, it's an expression of love. Don't see it as a burden or an obligation, but as a response to God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. It's a way of saying "thank you" for everything Heaven has poured into your life.
1Ephesians 5:2
Then he adds, “I will no longer hold their sins and their disobedience against them.”When sins are forgiven, there is no longer any need to sacrifice for sins.
Jesus spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury area of the temple courtyard. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.
“Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings.
Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifice Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean.”
Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God.
“His master replied, ‘Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.’“Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds.
Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn’t be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver.
As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how ⌞much⌟ money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts.A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent.He called his disciples and said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Then your barns will be full, and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income.
“One-tenth of what comes from the land, whether grain or fruit, is holy and belongs to the Lord.
But I will sacrifice to you with songs of thanksgiving. I will keep my vow. Victory belongs to the Lord!”
He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things.
God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over ⌞to death⌟ for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him.
Each man must bring a gift in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given him.
Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.”
with whatever contributions you have. Since you are willing to do this, ⌞remember⌟ that people are accepted if they give what they are able to give. God doesn’t ask for what they don’t have.
Choose something of your own to give as a special contribution to the Lord. Let everyone who is willing bring this kind of contribution to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze,
But who am I and who are my people that you enable us to give so generously? Everything comes from you. We give you only what has come from your hands.
Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you.
Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.
Every year be sure to save a tenth of the crops harvested from whatever you plant in your fields.Eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and eat the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats in the presence of the Lord your God in the place he will choose to put his name. Then you will learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live.
Every Sunday each of you should set aside some of your money and save it. Then money won’t have to be collected when I come.
He blessed Abram, and said, “Blessed is Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth. Blessed is God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
All goes well for the person who is generous and lends willingly. He earns an honest living.
One person spends freely and yet grows richer, while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.A generous person will be made rich, and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.
“How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses’ Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others.
Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box.He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins.He said, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others.All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
they faithfully brought in the contributions, the offerings of one-tenth of the crops, and the gifts dedicated to God. The Levite Conaniah was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was his assistant.
I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.’ ”
You have paid me in full, and I have more than enough. Now that Epaphroditus has brought me your gifts, you have filled my needs. Your gifts are a soothing aroma, a sacrifice that God accepts and with which he is pleased.
I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward.”
This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: Loosen the chains of wickedness, untie the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.Share your food with the hungry, take the poor and homeless into your house, and cover them with clothes when you see ⌞them⌟ naked. Don’t refuse to help your relatives.
Do not hold back anything good from those who are entitled to it when you have the power to do so.When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor, “Go away! Come back tomorrow. I’ll give you something then.”
Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share.By doing this they store up a treasure for themselves which is a good foundation for the future. In this way they take hold of what life really is.
“Tell the Israelites to choose something to give me as a special contribution. You must accept whatever contribution each person freely gives.
Soon you will enter and take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you as your property. When you have settled there,take some of the first produce harvested from the fields in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket. Then go to the place where the Lord your God will choose for his name to live.
Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings.Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured. In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of God’s approval. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace).
The Lord does whatever he wants in heaven or on earth, on the seas or in all the depths of the oceans.He is the one who makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth, who makes lightning for the thunderstorms, and who brings wind out of his storerooms.
In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.
But remember the Lord your God is the one who makes you wealthy. He’s confirming the promise which he swore to your ancestors. It’s still in effect today.
I know, my God, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you.
A wicked person borrows, but he does not repay. A righteous person is generous and giving.
“Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure.Your heart will be where your treasure is.
So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward.When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
This stone that I have set up as a marker will be the house of God, and I will surely give you a tenth of everything you give me.”
Because the believers in Macedonia and Greece owe a debt to the Christians in Jerusalem, they have decided to take up a collection for the poor among the Christians in Jerusalem.
So Moses gave instructions to have the following message announced all over camp: “No man or woman needs to make anything more to give as their special contribution to the holy place.” Then the people stopped bringing gifts.The material they had was more than enough to do the job.
I will make a sacrifice to you along with a freewill offering. I will give thanks to your good name, O Lord.
Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar?In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”
Later Cain brought some crops from the land as an offering to the Lord.Abel also brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The Lord approved of Abel and his offering,but he didn’t approve of Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry and was disappointed.
Give to the Lord, you families of the nations. Give to the Lord glory and power.Give to the Lord the glory he deserves. Bring an offering, and come into his courtyards.
The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed, will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain.
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family, but whoever hates bribes will live.
Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him.
“You must bring the first and best of the produce harvested from your soil to the house of the Lord your God. “Never cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.After all, Scripture says, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain,” and “The worker deserves his pay.”
Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don’t give me either poverty or riches. Feed me ⌞only⌟ the food I need,or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation.
“The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you did for me.’
Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive ⌞everlasting life⌟ at the proper time, if we don’t give up.
You Philippians also know that in the early days, when I left the province of Macedonia to spread the Good News, you were the only church to share your money with me. You gave me what I needed, and you received what I gave you.Even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs twice.
The Lord is my shepherd. I am never in need.He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters.
Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing. Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses.
Moreover, I delight in the temple of my God. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my God’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple.
If you give some of your own food to ⌞feed⌟ those who are hungry and to satisfy ⌞the needs of⌟ those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark, and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.
Blessed is the one who has concern for helpless people. The Lord will rescue him in times of trouble.The Lord will protect him and keep him alive. He will be blessed in the land. Do not place him at the mercy of his enemies.
“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal.Your heart will be where your treasure is.
Be sure to give to them without any hesitation. When you do this, the Lord your God will bless you in everything you work for and set out to do.
He gives freely to poor people. His righteousness continues forever. His head is raised in honor.
Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia.While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.I assure you that by their own free will they have given all they could, even more than they could afford.They made an appeal to us, begging us to let them participate in the ministry of God’s kindness to his holy people ⌞in Jerusalem⌟.They did more than we had expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord and to us, since this was God’s will.
Blessed is God Most High, who has handed your enemies over to you.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to the Lord. King David was also overjoyed, and
If it is encouraging others, devote yourself to giving encouragement. If it is sharing, be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
He brings about justice for those who are oppressed. He gives food to those who are hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.
The only thing they asked us to do was to remember the poor, the very thing which I was eager to do.
When I come, I will give letters of introduction to the people whom you choose. You can send your gift to Jerusalem with them.If I think it’s worthwhile for me to go, they can go with me.
I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day ⌞you believed⌟ until now.
Whoever has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed.
God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us.
You give it to them, and they gather it up. You open your hand, and they are filled with blessings.
Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
Turn your burdens over to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.
Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest.
He lifts the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from a garbage heap.He seats them with influential people, with the influential leaders of his people.
You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people.