What are some qualities God desires us to have when we give our offering?
What should we be thinking when we are giving our offering?
What is the correct context in which we should be giving our offering?
A Careful Attitude
God’s response to Cain and Abel tells us that we must be careful how we give because He is monitoring our giving—Genesis 4:1-7
The Israelites were often reminded to be careful about God’s direction in regard to all the different areas of giving they were expected to follow—Leviticus 27:1-34
Our hearts in regard to giving are more important to God than the actual amount we are giving, but the amount is still of major importance—1 Samuel 16:7, Luke 21:1-4, John 12:1-8
God rebuked His people for their lack of being careful in regard to their giving, and also for being too wrapped up in the things of the world—Haggai 1:1-14
The Israelites failure to be careful in regard to making sure they were tithing was causing God to withhold His blessings—Malachi 3:6-12
Ananias and Sapphira were punished for their deceit in giving their offering to God—Acts 5:1-11
A Humble Attitude
God tells us to remember where all of our possessions and abilities to create income have come from—Deuteronomy 8:10-18
David recognized that all he possessed had been given to him by God (he knew he had gone from shepherd boy to king because of God’s blessings)—2 Samuel 7:1-29
Four lepers realized they were doing wrong by hoarding all the blessings they had come upon; they realized they were fortunate to even be alive and gave according to their gratitude—2 Kings 7:3-11
David understood who he was in comparison to God, and he realized that all he possessed was simply a gift from God—1 Chronicles 29:10-20
A Trusting Attitude
Solomon reminds us how we can be confident that God will meet our needs if we have a heart to give to others in need—Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 28:27
Jesus calls us to have a childlike trust in getting our needs met and to give ourselves fully to His kingdom—Matthew 6:25-34
The disciples were called to trust in God—that He would supply all their needs if they in turn would give to others—2 Corinthians 9:6-11
The early disciples gave their offerings to the apostles and trusted that they would use it appropriately—Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37
A Willing Attitude
The people of Egypt in Joseph’s day had a willing heart to give in view of how it would be helping to meet needs in the future—Genesis 41:33-57
The Israelites in the desert willingly gave of what they had in view of the tabernacle that was going to be built, something that would ultimately be a big blessing to their lives—Exodus 35:4-29, 36:2-7
David and his leaders gave willingly toward the construction of the temple, even while realizing they would probably never actually see it after it was finished—1 Chronicles 29:1-9
The Macedonians gave willingly to help others in need, even amid their own challenges—2 Corinthians 8:1-15
A Cheerful Attitude
God loves it when we give cheerfully (excitement for how we can be a part of doing something so beneficial to others)—2 Corinthians 9:6-7
God’s desire is that we don’t give under compulsion, but cheerfully; this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give if we’re not cheerful or if we’re doing it under compulsion (two wrongs don’t make a right!); however, our goal must be to always be cheerful whenever we give
We can give knowing that all things are under God’s control; even the widow was giving to a religious system that, at that time, was not one God was pleased with, yet Jesus commended her for her giving—Luke 21:1-4
Summary Points:
We must give according to the pattern found in the Scriptures, but our goal must be to do so with the right attitude
We must start by being sure we are careful when it comes to our giving
We must be humble, realizing we are giving only what has been given to us
We must trust we will be taken care of and that God will use our gift as He sees fit
We must give of our money with a willing and cheerful heart, realizing the honor and privilege that comes from giving it to God
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