Understanding The Power of Offerings

Some people see that tithing is just another word for giving and offering.

But the Bible is clear that tithe and offerings are two distinct and differing things.

Malachi 3:7-8
Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings…”

The Bible shows that for God’s people, tithing was never the ceiling for giving, it was the floor.

•The Israelites tithed because God told them to.

•But they gave above and beyond in voluntary offerings because they wanted to.

•The tithe was an explicit percentage – but offerings were “give as you feel led”

•The tithe was a response to a command – but offerings flowed from hearts touched by God’s grace.

•An offering was not a redirected tithe – rather it was what was given after the tithe was taken care of.

As we prepare our hearts for next week’s Expansion Offering, a special offering over and above our tithes, lets talk today about the power of offerings.

1. AN OFFERING EXPRESSES MY LOVE FOR GOD

Tithing is an expression of obedience. But it’s what I do of my own freewill, beyond the tithe, that expresses my love for God.

In Luke Chapter 7, we read of a woman, we don’t even know her name, but we do know that she really loved Jesus.

Luke 7:44–47
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

A self-righteous heart doesn’t even think to give generously, because it doesn’t feel any debt of gratitude to the Lord.

Her offering was not what caused the forgiveness – Jesus forgave her freely. Her offering was a tangible representation of the gratitude in her heart.

Karl Baarth
Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightning.

2. AN OFFERING BREAKS MATERIALISM OFF MY HEART

The voice of materialism speaks in all of us, saying “I’ve got to have more.”

Luke 12:15
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Greed tells us that if we want a more meaningful and joyful life, that life will be found by accumulating more and more stuff.

But when we give an offering, we interrupt and silence the voice of materialism by declaring, “Material things don’t have a hold on me.”

Maya Angelou
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.

3. AN OFFERING RESOURCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP

God’s model in Scripture was this:

•The people brought the tithe as an act of obedience, and the tithes maintained the ministry functions in the faith community.

•The priests were fed. Care was given. Worship was facilitated.

•But when houses of worship were to be constructed, the people brought freewill offerings for these special projects.

The time of Moses - The first church in the wilderness, liberated from slavery in Egypt, and now a people unto God.

Exodus 35:29
All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

The time of David - Israel had peace, and God put it in his heart to build a temple for the Lord.

1 Chronicles 29:6-9
Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron… The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

The time of Ezra – the temple had been destroyed and needed to be rebuilt.

Ezra 1:5-6
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites - everyone whose heart God had moved - prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.

This is why in Calvary, the tithes maintain the ministry functions in every campus. And our Expansion Offering resources the construction of houses of worship.

4. AN OFFERING TEACHES US TO TRUST GOD IN FAITH

When we start to accumulate wealth, a subtle shift can take place. We start believing that our money is where our security, strength and protection come from.

But isn’t God the One who ultimately provides our security, our strength and our protection?

Some think it’s risky to give an offering. The bigger risk is when we start trusting in money as our security and protection.

1 Timothy 6:17
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

An offering is a statement that my trust is not in money, my trust is in God.

It brings us out of fear and anxiety and into a place of faith and trust.

Faith giving is when we give in a way, that the numbers don’t add up.

2 Corinthians 8:1-3
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

I’m not advocating going into debt for the sake of offerings, but I am pointing to the example in scripture of faith giving.

•Abraham giving Isaac
•Elijah pouring barrels of water on the altar in the midst of drought
•The widow who first gave bread to the prophet Elijah in obedience to his instruction
•The Macedonian believers who voluntarily gave what was beyond them
•Jesus, who gave Himself upon the Cross by faith, trusting that on the third day the Father would raise him to life again

The power of an offering is that it invites us to trust God and learn His faithfulness first-hand.

5. AN OFFERING ATTRACTS GOD’S ATTENTION

Philippians 4:16-18
for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Genesis 8:21
And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man…”

Whenever we bring an offering to the Lord, from a heart of sincerity and faith, it’s never just a transaction. It’s a fragrant offering, a ‘sweet smelling aroma’, that drifts upward and attracts God’s attention.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

What we do next Sunday in church is not just a “fundraising campaign”.
•It’s a fragrant offering
•It’s a sacrifice that catches God’s attention
•It’s an act of worship that God promises to bless

I pray that what we do collectively would catch God’s attention – that His eye would be upon Calvary and as we bring an offering to Him, He would make good on His promise to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.