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
"His mastersaidto him, 'Well done,goodand faithfulslave.You were faithfulwith a few things,I will put you in chargeof many things;enterinto the joyof your master.'"And the one alsowho had receivedthe onetalentcameup and said,'Master,I knewyou to be a hardman,reapingwhereyou did not sowand gatheringwhereyou scatteredno[seed].
And He sat downoppositethe treasury,and [began] observinghowthe peoplewere puttingmoneyinto the treasury;and manyrich peoplewere puttingin large sums.A poorwidowcameand putin twosmall copper coins,whichamountto a cent.CallingHis disciplesto Him, He saidto them, "TrulyI sayto you, thispoorwidowputin morethan allthe contributorsto the treasury;for they allputin out of their surplus,but she, out of her poverty,putin allshe owned,allshe had to liveon."
"You shall surelytitheallthe producefrom whatyou sow,which comesout of the fieldeveryyear."You shall eatin the presenceof the LORDyour God,at the placewhereHe choosesto establishHis name,the titheof your grain,your newwine,your oil,and the firstbornof your herdand your flock,sothat you may learnto fearthe LORDyour Godalways.
And He lookedup and sawthe richputtingtheir giftsinto the treasury.And He sawa poorwidowputtingin twosmall copper coins.And He said,"TrulyI sayto you, thispoorwidowputin morethan all[of them];for they allout of their surplusputinto the offering;but she out of her povertyputin allthat she hadto liveon."
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?"Is it not to divideyour breadwith the hungryAnd bringthe homelesspoorinto the house;Whenyou seethe naked,to coverhim; And not to hideyourself from your own flesh?
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.[Instruct them] to do good,to be richin goodworks,to be generousand ready to share,storingup for themselvesthe treasureof a goodfoundationfor the future,sothat they may take holdof that which is lifeindeed.
"Then it shall be, whenyou enterthe landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou as an inheritance,and you possessit and livein it,that you shall takesomeof the firstof allthe produceof the groundwhichyou bringin from your landthat the LORDyour Godgivesyou, and you shall put[it] in a basketand goto the placewherethe LORDyour Godchoosesto establishHis name.
For thisMelchizedek,kingof Salem,priestof the Most HighGod,who metAbrahamas he was returningfrom the slaughterof the kingsand blessedhim,to whomalsoAbrahamapportioneda tenth partof all[the spoils], was first of all,by the translation[of his name], kingof righteousness,and thenalsokingof Salem,whichis kingof peace.
"Sowhenyou giveto the poor, do not sound a trumpetbeforeyou, as the hypocritesdoin the synagoguesand in the streets,sothat they may be honoredby men.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full."But when you giveto the poor, do not let your left handknowwhatyour right handis doing,sothat your givingwill be in secret;and your Fatherwho sees[what is done] in secretwill rewardyou.
So it cameabout in the courseof timethat Cainbroughtan offeringto the LORDof the fruitof the ground.Abel,on his partalsobroughtof the firstlingsof his flockand of their fatportions.And the LORDhadregardfor Abeland for his offering;but for Cainand for his offeringHe hadnoregard.So Cainbecameveryangryand his countenancefell.
Now,brethren,we [wish to] make knownto you the graceof Godwhich has been givenin the churchesof Macedonia,that in a greatordealof afflictiontheir abundanceof joyand their deeppovertyoverflowedin the wealthof their liberality.For I testifythat accordingto their ability,and beyondtheir ability,[they gave] of their own accord,beggingus with muchurgingfor the favorof participationin the supportof the saints,and [this], not as we had expected,but they firstgavethemselvesto the Lordand to us by the willof God.