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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 says: “Their sins and the evil things they do— I will not remember anymore.”Now when these have been forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice for sins.
Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple, near where the money is kept. But no one arrested him, because the right time for him had not yet come.
Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord All-Powerful. “I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.
Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. But go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded for people who are made well. This will show the people what I have done.”
Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.’“Then the servant who had been given one bag of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed.
Each of you should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily.
Jesus sat near the Temple money box and watched the people put in their money. Many rich people gave large sums of money.Then a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which were only worth a few cents.Calling his followers to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people.They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave all she had to live on.”
“ ‘One-tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord, including the crops from fields and the fruit from trees. That one-tenth is holy to the Lord.
But I will praise and thank you while I give sacrifices to you, and I will keep my promises to you. Salvation comes from the Lord!”
He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him—people who are always wanting to do good deeds.
He did not spare his own Son but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things.
Each of you must bring a gift that will show how much the Lord your God has blessed you.
Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”
If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. It will be judged by what you have, not by what you do not have.
From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Let everyone who is willing bring this offering to the Lord: gold, silver, bronze,
Praise the glory of the Lord’s name. Bring an offering and come into his Temple courtyards.
“These things did not really come from me and my people. Everything comes from you; we have given you back what you gave us.
So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.
Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.
Be sure to save one-tenth of all your crops each year.Take it to the place the Lord your God will choose where he is to be worshiped. There, where you will be together with the Lord, eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and eat the animals born first to your herds and flocks. Do this so that you will learn to respect the Lord your God always.
On the first day of every week, each one of you should put aside money as you have been blessed. Save it up so you will not have to collect money after I come.
and blessed Abram, saying, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the God who made heaven and earth.All these kings went to war against several other kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. (Bela is also called Zoar.)And we praise God Most High, who has helped you to defeat your enemies.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle.
Some people give much but get back even more. Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.Whoever gives to others will get richer; those who help others will themselves be helped.
“How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.
As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box.Then he said to them, “Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms.In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.“But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because you follow me.But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.Make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about what you will say.I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong.Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you, and they will kill some of you.All people will hate you because you follow me.But none of these things can really harm you.By continuing to have faith you will save your lives.Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box.“When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed.At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in.These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures.How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people.They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea.People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!”Then Jesus told this story: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people.When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near.In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God’s kingdom is near.“I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living.Earth and sky will be destroyed, but the words I have spoken will never be destroyed.“Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly,like a trap on all people on earth.So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man.”During the day, Jesus taught the people in the Temple, and at night he went out of the city and stayed on the Mount of Olives.Every morning all the people got up early to go to the Temple to listen to him.They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on.”
Then the priests brought in the offerings and the things given to the Lord and one-tenth of everything the people had given. Conaniah the Levite was in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was second to him.
I showed you in all things that you should work as I did and help the weak. I taught you to remember the words Jesus said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
And now I have everything, and more. I have all I need, because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. It is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice offered to God, who accepts that sacrifice and is pleased with it.
Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward.”
“I will tell you the kind of fast I want: Free the people you have put in prison unfairly and undo their chains. Free those to whom you are unfair and stop their hard labor.Share your food with the hungry and bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours, and don’t refuse to help your own relatives.
Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say, “Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.”
Anyone who is learning the teaching of God should share all the good things he has with his teacher.
Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy.Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.
“Tell the Israelites to bring me gifts. Receive for me the gifts each person wants to give.
When you go into the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own, to take it over and live in it,Now I bring part of the first harvest from this land that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.Then you and the Levites and foreigners among you should rejoice, because the Lord your God has given good things to you and your family.Bring a tenth of all your harvest the third year (the year to give a tenth of your harvest). Give it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows so that they may eat in your towns and be full.Then say to the Lord your God, “I have taken out of my house the part of my harvest that belongs to God, and I have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. I have done everything you commanded me; I have not broken your commands, and I have not forgotten any of them.I have not eaten any of the holy part while I was in sorrow. I have not removed any of it while I was unclean, and I have not offered it for dead people. I have obeyed you, the Lord my God, and have done everything you commanded me.So look down from heaven, your holy home. Bless your people Israel and bless the land you have given us, which you promised to our ancestors—a fertile land.”Today the Lord your God commands you to obey all these rules and laws; be careful to obey them with your whole being.Today you have said that the Lord is your God, and you have promised to do what he wants you to do—to keep his rules, commands, and laws. You have said you will obey him.And today the Lord has said that you are his very own people, as he has promised you. But you must obey his commands.He will make you greater than all the other nations he made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor, and you will be a holy people to the Lord your God, as he has said.you must take some of the first harvest of crops that grow from the land the Lord your God is giving you. Put the food in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to be worshiped.
Melchizedek was the king of Salem and a priest for God Most High. He met Abraham when Abraham was coming back after defeating the kings. When they met, Melchizedek blessed Abraham,Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.The people were given the law concerning the system of priests from the tribe of Levi, but they could not be made perfect through that system. So there was a need for another priest to come, a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron.And when a different kind of priest comes, the law must be changed, too.We are saying these things about Christ, who belonged to a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests belonging to that tribe.And this becomes even more clear when we see that another priest comes who is like Melchizedek.He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of his life, which continues forever.It is said about him, “You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek.”The old rule is now set aside, because it was weak and useless.The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle. First, Melchizedek’s name means “king of goodness,” and he is king of Salem, which means “king of peace.”
The Lord does what he pleases, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and the deep oceans.He brings the clouds from the ends of the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain. He brings out the wind from his storehouses.
In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
And God can give you more blessings than you need. Then you will always have plenty of everything—enough to give to every good work.
but remember the Lord your God! It is he who gives you the power to become rich, keeping the agreement he promised to your ancestors, as it is today.
I know, my God, that you test people’s hearts. You are happy when people do what is right. I was happy to give all these things, and I gave with an honest heart. Your people gathered here are happy to give to you, and I rejoice to see their giving.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Get for yourselves purses that will not wear out, the treasure in heaven that never runs out, where thieves can’t steal and moths can’t destroy.Your heart will be where your treasure is.
“When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.Your heart will be where your treasure is.“The eye is a light for the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. And if the only light you have is really darkness, then you have the worst darkness.“No one can serve two masters. The person will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.“So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds.You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.“And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves.But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.So when you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know what you are doing.God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith!Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
This stone which I have set up on its end will be the house of God. And I will give God one-tenth of all he gives me.”
The believers in Macedonia and Southern Greece were happy to give their money to help the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem.
Then Moses sent this command throughout the camp: “No man or woman should make anything else as a gift for the Holy Tent.” So the people were kept from giving more,because what they had was already more than enough to do all the work.
I will offer a sacrifice as a special gift to you. I will thank you, Lord, because you are good.
Surely you know that those who work at the Temple get their food from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get part of what is offered at the altar.In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who tell the Good News should get their living from this work.
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
Later, Cain brought some food from the ground as a gift to God.Abel brought the best parts from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,but he did not accept Cain and his gift. So Cain became very angry and felt rejected.
Praise the Lord, all nations on earth; praise the Lord’s glory and power.Praise the glory of the Lord’s name. Bring an offering and come into his Temple courtyards.
Those who cry as they carry out the seeds will return singing and carrying bundles of grain.
Greedy people bring trouble to their families, but the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.
So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak his name.
“Bring the best first crops that you harvest from your ground to the Tent of the Lord your God. “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
The elders who lead the church well should receive double honor, especially those who work hard by speaking and teaching,because the Scripture says: “When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating,” and “A worker should be given his pay.”
Keep me from lying and being dishonest. And don’t make me either rich or poor; just give me enough food for each day.If I have too much, I might reject you and say, ‘I don’t know the Lord.’ If I am poor, I might steal and disgrace the name of my God.
“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’
You Philippians remember when I first preached the Good News there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help.Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water.
Whoever gives to the poor will have everything he needs, but the one who ignores the poor will receive many curses.
I have already given this for the Temple, but now I am also giving my own treasures of gold and silver, because I really want the Temple of my God to be built.
if you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness, and you will be bright like sunshine at noon.
Happy are those who think about the poor. When trouble comes, the Lord will save them.Lord, have mercy on me. Give me strength so I can pay them back.Because my enemies do not defeat me, I know you are pleased with me.Because I am innocent, you support me and will let me be with you forever.Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has always been, and he will always be. Amen and amen.The Lord will protect them and spare their life and will bless them in the land. He will not let their enemies take them.
“Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them.“When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.Your heart will be where your treasure is.
Give freely to the poor person, and do not wish that you didn’t have to give. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch.
They give freely to the poor. The things they do are right and will continue forever. They will be given great honor.
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace God gave the churches in Macedonia.This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give, and you were the first who gave.So now finish the work you started. Then your “doing” will be equal to your “wanting to do.” Give from what you have.If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. It will be judged by what you have, not by what you do not have.We do not want you to have troubles while other people are at ease, but we want everything to be equal.At this time you have plenty. What you have can help others who are in need. Then later, when they have plenty, they can help you when you are in need, and all will be equal.As it is written in the Scriptures, “The person who gathered more did not have too much, nor did the person who gathered less have too little.”I thank God because he gave Titus the same love for you that I have.Titus accepted what we asked him to do. He wanted very much to go to you, and this was his own idea.We are sending with him the brother who is praised by all the churches because of his service in preaching the Good News.Also, this brother was chosen by the churches to go with us when we deliver this gift of money. We are doing this service to bring glory to the Lord and to show that we really want to help.They have been tested by great troubles, and they are very poor. But they gave much because of their great joy.We are being careful so that no one will criticize us for the way we are handling this large gift.We are trying hard to do what the Lord accepts as right and also what people think is right.Also, we are sending with them our brother, who is always ready to help. He has proved this to us in many ways, and he wants to help even more now, because he has much faith in you.Now about Titus—he is my partner who is working with me to help you. And about the other brothers—they are sent from the churches, and they bring glory to Christ.So show these men the proof of your love and the reason we are proud of you. Then all the churches can see it.I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do it.But they begged and pleaded with us to let them share in this service for God’s people.And they gave in a way we did not expect: They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us. This is what God wants.
And we praise God Most High, who has helped you to defeat your enemies.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle.
The leaders gave willingly and completely to the Lord. The people rejoiced to see their leaders give so gladly, and King David was also very happy.
Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy.
If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged. He gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The only thing they asked us was to remember to help the poor—something I really wanted to do.
When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. I will send them with letters of introduction,and if it seems good for me to go also, they will go along with me.
I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News—help you gave from the first day you believed until now.
Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord; he will reward you for what you have done.
He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.
When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are filled with good food.
Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!
Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.
Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down.
Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.
The Lord lifts the poor from the dirt and takes the helpless from the ashes.He seats them with princes, the princes of his people.
You can see how great Melchizedek was. Abraham, the great father, gave him a tenth of everything that he won in battle.