Of all the items of worship, the one that gets the least of attention is the Offering. I think that is the case for a couple reasons -
First, we do not place much emphasis on the Offering because we do not want to be grouped together with other churches and religious ministries that focus a great deal on soliciting for money. There are some churches and ministers who spend much of their time and effort in begging for money. In our efforts to distance ourselves from that kind of activity, we sometimes go to the other extreme and almost act embarrassed or ashamed to pass the offering basket around each Lord’s Day.
Secondly, we do not place a spotlight on the Offering because it is a very private act of worship. Even though we pass the basket around to each member of the church, what each one does with the basket is between them and God alone. Whether or not one gives and, if they give, how much is given is a private affair between the giver and God.
Today, it is my intention to review some Scriptures that apply to the Offering or Collection so that we can base this area of worship upon Scriptural principles. We want to offer every act of worship in spirit and in truth; therefore, it is important that we know the kind of spirit that God wants when it comes to giving.
The passage that we most often cite as the example that we have for the offering is in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.”
From this passage, I want us to note a few points.
1. First, the offering is taken-up on the first day of every week. The offering is part of our Sunday, Lord’s Day worship to God.
2. It is something that each member of the Church is to participate in - “let each one of you.”
3. Paul qualifies that statement that each member is to contribute by adding the phrase “as he may prosper.” This is an important point. First, it tells us that if you have not prospered that week - if you have not received any financial income that week, you are not obligated to contribute. Secondly, it tells us that Paul expected our giving to be tied to the amount of our income. Our giving is to be proportional to our receiving. Paul lays down this principle in 2 Corinthians 8:12, “For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have.”
4. The last point I want to bring forth from our 1 Corinthians 16 passage is that the collection is for the saints. That is, the money collected is to be used to benefit the Church and its members rather than outsiders. We are to help outsiders out of our own pockets but the Church uses its treasury to benefit its work and to assist its own members.
Lets now turn to 2 Corinthians 9:7, where Paul talks further about our giving to the church collection - “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Here, Paul really addresses the spirit of our giving. Let’s again note some points contained in this verse.
1. Even though Paul admonished each member of the congregation to be active in giving, yet he does not want anyone to give if they feel that they are being compelled to do so. It is a free-will offering and Paul wants us to participate because we want to rather than because we feel that we have to.
2. Paul says do not give “grudgingly,” which means that the giving is accompanied by sorrow. He doesn’t want us to feel like we are parting with a dear friend or loved one when we part with our money. God warns us about being covetous.
3. Paul says that God wants us to give because we want to. “God loves a cheerful giver.” If you give without the desire to give, God would rather that you not give at all. The Greek word rendered “cheerful” is the term from which we get our word ‘hilarious.’ God wants our cheerfulness to overflow as we give.
The next point I want to comment on is found in Romans 12:8. There, Paul instructs that “he who gives, [do so] with liberality.”
Paul spoke of our spirit in giving - not grudgingly but cheerfully - now he tells us how much we should be willing to give. Rather than being stingy, we are to be liberal in our giving.
We have examples recorded in the Scriptures of those who were liberal givers. They received great praise and commendation for their liberality.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, we the example of the Macedonians. “Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.”
Paul points out that these brethren were not wealthy or well-to-do folks. In fact, they lived in “deep poverty.” Despite their poverty, with an “abundance of joy,” they gave actually “beyond their ability.” That means, they just didn’t give what money they had in surplus but actually gave what they would normally use to live on.
Another example of such generous liberality is found in the widow in the Temple, recorded in Mark 12:41-44, “And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’"
How crazy! Why would these folks - the Macedonians and this widow - go to such extremes in giving? What would motivate this kind of behavior?
May I share some Scriptural suggestions -
1. Gratitude.
These people were grateful for benefits that God had blessed them with. The Psalmist pondered in Psalms 116:12, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” The Macedonians reflected upon the sacrifices of Jesus and were willing to make their own sacrifices - 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
2. Faith.
These people had the faith that if they put God first in their giving, God would ensure that they would have what they need for their daily lives. May I say that this faith is well-grounded. There are several Scriptures that state that God will give back that which we give to His Cause.
Proverbs 11:24-25, “There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.”
Proverbs 22:9, “He who is generous will be blessed.”
Matthew 6:31-33, "Do not be anxious then, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
Luke 6:38, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
2 Corinthians 9:6-11, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, ‘HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ABIDES FOREVER.’ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
From a worldly standpoint, it is insanity for the poor to sacrifice in their giving. But, to those who are members of the Kingdom and who have a spiritual mind-set, to not sacrifice is to cheat oneself of God’s richest blessings.
I think I will quote Paul, from Acts 20:35, "remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
I am going to close my comments, today, by returning to 2 Corinthians 9:7. Paul begins that verse with these words - “Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart.”
What Paul is saying here is that we need to give some thought on how we give and what we give. It is wrong to decide whether or not to give when we see the basket approaching. It is wrong for us to begin considering what to give based upon what we happen to have in our pockets, purses or billfolds when the basket approaches us.
We need to give our giving much thought. We need to consider the principles we have reviewed today. Then, we need to make a plan in our giving. What we decide is between us and the Lord. How we answer the question - “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” - is a matter of conscience.
