Giving: Alms and Offerings, Part 2

Offerings

An offering is simply a gift you give to God. In the OT, we see different types of offerings. Burnt offerings (Gen. 22:2-13, Ex. 18:12, 29:15-18), drink offering (Gen. 35:14), uncategorized offerings for the work of God (Ex. 25:2-8, 30:14-15, 35:21-29), sin offering (Ex. 29:10-14), wave offering (Ex. 29:22-24), heave offering (Ex. 29:27-28), grain offering (Ex. 30:9), and so on. In the OT, they used to give offerings to be accepted before God, support the work of God, feed the ministers and the poor among them (the poor and needy used to go to the house of God to get food – Deut. 26:12-13), and enjoyed the benefits of all this in form of God causing an increase on all they did.

Today, we still give offerings. Since we do not give to be accepted by God as Jesus was the offering to God to make us right with Him once and for all (Heb. 10:10, 14), our giving is mainly to support the work of God and to feed the needy and poor, who we fellowship with. This is why the early church sold all their possessions and brought them to their leaders:

Acts 2:44-45

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4:33-35

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Since the apostles did not work, they fed from these givings, and so did everyone who had need. So our offering today is supposed to enhance the work of God and support anyone who is in need, among us. This is different from alms, which we give by ourselves to individuals in our lives, as God leads them to us. In alms God leads you to give to meet the need of a specific individual; in offering, God leads you to give to the church, and leads the church to who to give it to, or how to spend it. We cannot do one and neglect the other, as God had a reason for telling us about both, in His Word. The church is supposed to be a haven for all people, where people can be fed and have their needs met. Since Scriptures are not to be taken exclusive of other Scriptures, consider what Paul says about the needy who do not work:

2 Thessalonians 3:7-15

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

So in as much as the church should be a haven for the needy among us, we should also not encourage laziness, such that people do not work and expect the church to fend for them. The question arises, as why then not to give whatever we have to people directly (alm) at all times, and bring them to the church (offering)? Bringing them to the church enhances fellowship with one another. Also, the ministers of God, just as in the early church, were used by the Spirit of God and could tell who was genuinely needy and who was not, and who was giving with ulterior motives and who was not. This is why Ananias and Sapphira could not get away with giving with ulterior motives, to be seen that they had given, and Peter through the Holy Spirit exposed their motives (Acts 5:1-14). This is why it is very important, as we saw in the earlier teachings on giving, for us to be led by the Spirit of God to where He wants us to fellowship, under ministers who are filled with and led by the Spirit of God, who will ensure that our giving is used well. You cannot be led by the Spirit of God to give to a minister who is corrupt, and is using people’s money wrongly; the Spirit of God is the one who tests the heart of men, and will always lead you to give to good ground.

Offerings are also supposed to support the work of God. This is in the structures, physical needs, and mission work and so on, and support the ministers who have committed their lives to do the work of God and this is how they work, not so that they may be rich and show off, but so that they may have sufficiency in all things, having an abundance for every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). If all ministers were led by the Spirit of God and depended on Him to show them how to spend what was given, then we would not be having the problems we hear of, of unwise spending of what is given for the work of God. If we were led by the Spirit of God regarding where to give, we would not be having the problems we have, of supporting selfish interests by the ministers we give to. It works both ways; as the ministers are to be led by the Spirit of God in how to spend what is given, we are also to be led by the Spirit of God where to worship, which is where we should give, as you give where you also feed from, God's storehouse. It is a mutual relationship of give and receive, in a church. Again, the Spirit of God knows all things, and will never lead you to worship in a place where there is corruption and self-centeredness. All you need to do is seek Him and trust His leading, then give willingly. 

Giving offerings should be spontaneous, not religious. Do not give an offering only when the pastor asks you to. Always be ready to give when the Spirit prompts, and where He prompts you to give.

As the word implies, “offering” is something that is given, freely and willingly. If it is taken from you or you are coerced or manipulated into giving it through either guilt or fear, it is not an offering any more.

Our giving, whether a firstfruit, a tithe, an alm or an offering, should be willing and free, out of love. We have been called to liberty (Gal. 5:1, 13), so if you are not led to give by the Spirit of God, do not give. The only motivation for giving should be love. God showed us this:

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Love compelled Him to give; it should do the same for us. This is why Paul says:

1 Corinthians 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

It will not profit you anything if you do not give out of love. It is like wasting your possession, when your giving is not compelled by God’s love in and for you. You should meditate on God’s love for you, and what He has done for you, and your response towards that is what should compel you to give, for whatever reason you give. I am sure you have heard of “love offerings” and “thanksgiving offerings”, but in the NT dispensation, we ALL our giving should be a love and thanksgiving offering, that is prompted and compelled by the love of God, and gratitude for what He has done. This is why there are no categories of offerings in the NT. If you truly love God and are really grateful for what He has done for you and what He has given you, trust me you will not wait for someone to tell you to give, or what to give; giving will be spontaneous, and generous. Not only should we give out of love, but also cheerfully:

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

I always joke and say we are told to give cheerfully, not tearfully. If you are not giving in joy and compelled by God’s love, your giving will not profit you anything. I talked about this more in the teaching on firstfruits, so I will leave it at that.

At the end, the question that remains is, “why do you give?” Why are you giving? If it is to be seen by men, Jesus says there is no reward from God for this (Matt. 6:1-5). If you give to make your pastor or whoever is giving you happy, you will have no reward from God, and it is like throwing your possessions away. If you give out of guilt, fear, desire to feel good about yourself, to get something to brag about, to be seen, to fulfill an obligation, as a religious activity and so on, it will not profit you anything; there is no reward for this. You cannot sow a seed on wrong grounds or under the wrong conditions and expect it to bear fruit. You have to sow on good grounds (where the Spirit leads), and under the right conditions (when the Spirit leads, prompted by God's love and gratitude), for you to reap. Many people get tired of giving as they do not see results, all because they have been giving to the wrong grounds, and under the wrong conditions. Check your ground, through the Spirit; check your motives too, your driving force for giving. When you are walking in the Spirit as far as giving is concerned, He will also help you know when your harvest is being delayed by the enemy, whose work is to steal, kill and destroy. At such times, He will let you know what you are supposed to do to unlock or even hasten your harvest, and your benefits of giving. 

The main benefit of offering is tied to that of tithe, which we talked about in the teaching on tithing, which is talked about in Malachi 3:10, which is positioning to access the outpoured blessing from the floodgates of heaven. God does not open the floodgates of heaven to pour out the blessing when we give. He opened them through Christ, our giving positions us at a position to receive what He already poured out. So if we do not give, we miss out on this, as we are not positioned to receive. As much as Christ loves us and we are saved by grace through faith, faith also without works is dead. Tithes and offerings are an indication of and exercise of our faith in God, as we are saying that we are so grateful for what He has done for us that we will support His work and provide for the needy through the church, and trust Him to take care of us. Whenever the Spirit prompts you to give an offering, do it, by faith.

Just because the word "seed" has been misused, doesn't mean that God's word has changed. He says explicitly:

2 Corinthians 9:6

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.  For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God...

Your giving is always a seed. Again, many stop giving when they do not see the harvest. You do not determine the harvest time; God does (Gal. 6:9). Do not give with the motive of getting a reward; give with the motive of love and gratitude, and whether you get back or not, God will be glorified. At the end, God is not slack regarding His promises, and you will surely reap (Heb. 10:23). Sow in good grounds, led by the Spirit, and with the right motives, love and gratitude for God, and you will not fail to reap, in God's timing.

God loves a cheerful giver, one who has a relationship with Him. He is after your heart, not after your gift. Your gift should be a response of your love for Him, which is a response of His love for you (1 John 4:19). When I talk about gift I’m not talking about monetary gift only, could be your spiritual gift, how you serve God either in church or in your life generally; whatever you do, do it as unto God, not men.

Colossians 3:23-24

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Check your motives for doing what you are doing. If you have been doing what you have been doing in the name of God but for people, stop it. Your work, studies, business, praying, studying the Word, going to church, attending fellowships, evangelising, giving, eating etc. should all be to God and an overflow of your relationship with Him, not to men or to yourself. It should all be prompted by His love for you, and gratitude for what He has done.

Live for God. Do all things for His glory, and Him alone.

Blessings.  

-- Sam Gitonga. 

(09/11/14 Sunday Service Sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry.) 

Brother Sam Gitonga is a Youth Leader at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.