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The Theology of Offerings

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Samuel Smith
5

LESSON 3

THE THEOLOGY OF OFFERINGS

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on Biblical Stewardship. The topic for this study is: The Theology of Offerings. In this study, we will consider the biblical doctrine of offerings, and how God's people are to participate in this divine requirement. The topic has been divided into three sub-sections as follows:

1) THE THEOLOGICAL BASIS OF OFFERINGS

The doctrine of freewill offerings is spread out throughout the entire Scripture. The first place we read about offerings in Scripture is in Genesis 4. In this chapter, God required a particular kind of offering from Cain and Abel (see Genesis 4:1-7). The account makes it clear that God accepted Abel's offering and rejected that of Cain. Abel's offering was accepted by God because he offered the offering according to the specification of God. God however did not accept Cain's offering because it was not given according to the specification He had commanded (review Genesis 4:7). From this story of Cain and Abel, we learn that God is particular in relation to the specifications He gives His children regarding various freewill offerings.

Another area in Scripture where we come across the doctrine of freewill offerings is in Exodus 35. In this passage we learn about how God petitioned the children of Israel to bring unto Him various offerings for the building of the sanctuary. The Lord's petition to the people was clear; everyone who was willing to bring an offering from his or her heart could do so (Exodus 35:4-5, 29). The Scripture records how the children of Israel brought their offerings unto the Lord even beyond what was needed for the erection of the sanctuary (Exodus 36:4-7). From this story on freewill offerings, we learn that God does not force us to bring offerings unto Him. The Lord will accept offerings only from the heart that is overflowing with gratitude for what He has done (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). Thus, the giving of freewill offerings serves as an index that shows whether we are grateful to the Lord for His manifold blessings upon our lives or whether we are ungrateful.

Friends, the doctrine of freewill offerings become very clear in the book of Leviticus. In the book of Leviticus, we read about how the Lord institutes various forms of offerings for the people in relation to the sanctuary sacrificial system (see Leviticus 1-7). The different types offerings that the people were to bring were all patterned after the Supreme offering that God had planned to give unto the human race in the Person of His Son (Hebrews 9:9-15; Hebrews 10:8-12; 1 Peter 1:18-20). In the sanctuary sacrificial system, the people of God were not to bring any offerings to the sanctuary that had defects (Leviticus 22:18-24). The various offerings were all a shadow of the Lamb of God who had no blemish (1 Peter 1:19). In giving His Son to die for mankind, God poured out the best that heaven could offer for the redemption of the human race (see John 3:16). In the Old Testament, we come across further accounts of freewill offerings such as the offerings that the children of Israel gave for the raising of the temple of the Lord during the time of King David (see 1 Chronicles 29).

Besides these Old Testament accounts, we also read about freewill offerings in the New Testament. In relation to freewill offerings, Christ commended a widow who gave all the money she had as an offering unto the Lord (see Luke 21:1-4). When Christ ascended to the Father, the New Testament Church continued with the practice of giving sacrificial freewill offerings. Many of the converts sold their possessions and brought the money to the apostles for the work of the Lord. Through this practice, the church had no lack and grew from strength to strength (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:34-35). We also read in the New Testament how the apostle Paul collected various freewill offerings from the churches to alleviate the needs of the poor Christian brethren in Jerusalem (see Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; Acts 24:17).

Beloved, the Scripture is clear that the people of God throughout the various generations have consistently paid heed to the requirement of giving sacrificial offerings; a requirement which had been instituted by the Lord Himself. Now, as spiritual Israelites that await the soon Second Advent of the Messiah, will the Lord require a lesser obligation from us? The history of how God's people have been faithful in relation to the issue of freewill sacrificial offerings should serve as an encouragement to those of us living at the end of time to honour the Lord in respect to this sacred requirement of Jehovah.

2) THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OFFERINGS

A) The giving of offerings starts with the return of tithes (see Malachi 3:8). We give our tithes first before giving offerings. The reason for this is that God makes a special claim in respect to the tithe (see Leviticus 27:30). Thus, we first return our tithes, and follow it up with the giving of offerings.

B) Unlike the tithe, the Scripture does not provide the exact percentage of offerings that we must give to the Lord. From the book of Deuteronomy, we learn that "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee" (Deuteronomy 16:17). Thus, the amount of freewill offerings given will be dependent on the means of the giver, and how the giver views the blessings of God upon his or her life. Thus, freewill offerings given may be more than the tithe, equal to the tithe or less than the tithe. When we come to understand what the Lord has done for us through Christ (review John 3:16), we will be willing to give offerings that go even beyond the minimal tithe. It is significant to learn that during the time of ancient Israel, a faithful Jew who practiced all of the different types of offerings in the Old Testament gave about one third (about 33%) of his total income to God (see Christ and our Stewardship, pages 10-11 by John James Vincent: utilised in *). I believe this practice of faithful Jews in times past will serve as an encouragement to us even as we prepare ourselves, and the peoples of this world for the imminent second coming of Christ.

C) Freewill giving is planned giving not impulse giving (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). In planning freewill offerings, the giver must make allowance for the diverse projects of the church as well as charitable funds that will be utilised to help the poor (see Leviticus 19:10; James 1:27). The giver must also take into consideration both the local and global missionary needs of the church (see Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3). When we reflect on all these in our planning, it will be difficult for us to give just any insignificant amount as freewill offerings. Rather, we will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to give more and more of what the Lord has blessed us with.

D) Just like tithing, the giving of freewill offerings is also an act of worship. It is a means of praise and thanksgiving to God. Both in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, we learn about how God's people freely gave out of their hearts when they came to worship the Lord. In the gospel of Luke, we read about how our Lord was so touched with the offering of a widow who had come to worship in the temple (review Luke 21:1-4). Her selfless giving touched the heart of the Saviour so much that He related her story to the disciples. In the same way, the heart of our Saviour is touched when we give out sacrificial freewill offerings so the cause of God can go forward.

E) The giving of sacrificial offerings is a tangible expression of a heart committed to God. The example of the poor churches of Macedonia clearly shows that the giving of sacrificial offerings is an index of our spiritual relationship with God. The apostle Paul wrote the following concerning the selfless giving of these early Christians: "8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
From the passage above, it is clear that the secret of the Macedonians in giving was that they first gave themselves to the Lord. The clear principle we can learn from this passage is that we cannot give sacrificially for the cause of God when our hearts are not right with God. Thus, if our freewill offerings are low, or worse still if we give nothing, that is a sure indication that are our hearts may not be right with God.

F) Just like tithing, there is a benefit or blessing associated with the giving of sacrificial freewill offerings. From the lips of Christ Himself we read the following in relation to the benefits of giving: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38). When contemplating the issue of how much freewill offerings to give, we must do well to always remember the words of our Lord Jesus that "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

3) From the scriptural passages we have reviewed so far, it is clear that both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible support the giving of sacrificial freewill offerings. As God's people, it is important for us to always have in mind that the giving of freewill offerings is a fundamental aspect of our stewardship duty. We will clearly appreciate this point when we always place before us the truth that God is the Creator and Owner of all things including ourselves (Genesis 1; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8). Besides God's role as Creator, He is also our Redeemer (Isaiah 47:4; Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-20). We must come to the point where we understand that there is nothing we could have owned in this life if not for the mercy and grace that the Father showed unto us through Jesus Christ (see Romans 6:23; John 3:16). This knowledge should inspire us to show selfless appreciation to God by giving sacrificial freewill offerings that will touch the cord of His heart.

Exhortation: Concerning tithes and offerings, we read the following strong words from the lips of God: "3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

(Malachi 3:8-10)
*Reference: Money, Tithe, Offerings, and Giving: A Brief Theological Perspective by Claude Lombard

In our next study, which happens to be the last in our series on Biblical Stewardship, we will consider the topic: The Five T's of Stewardship. The Bible Study references for this study are Ecclesiastes 9:11, Ephesians 5:14-16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Matthew 25:14-30, Romans 12:1, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Peter 3:15 and Revelation 12:11. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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