Redeemer Church Mauritius
One day Jesus sat in the temple and watched the people putting their offerings in the treasury. He didn’t praise or criticise anyone’s contribution until he saw a widow putting in all she had to live on. If it was anyone else watching, we would be highly offended. But Jesus is the recipient of all our offerings and acts of sacrifice – he is not just an observer. We make these offerings to please him and to show that our lives are completely dependent on him.
Luke 21:1-4 NIV
Mark 12:41-42 NIV
1. Giving is an act of worship
We give because God has given so generously to us.
2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) -
"But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
2. Jesus observes our offerings
Jesus receives our offerings and we can please him with our gifts.
Genesis 4:4–7 (NIV) -
"The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” "
3. Different types of giving
There are many types of offerings affirmed in the scriptures from tithes to proportional gifts, large one off gifts and net worth altering gifts.
1 Corinthians 16:1–2 (NIV) -
"Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made."
Acts 4:34–37 (NIV) -
"from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet."
Luke 19:8 (NIV) -
"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
4. Holding nothing back
The widow pleased Jesus with the quality of her gift because she made herself completely dependent on Jesus.
Think about it:
Are you willing to make yourself completely dependent on Jesus?