We love God because He first loved us.

Motivation for Giving

Her heart went with her gift; its value was estimated, not by the worth of the coin, but by the love to God and the interest in His work that had prompted the deed.” — Counsels on Stewardship, p. 175.

As God’s children, who are tasked with the responsibility of managing His business on the earth, it is a privilege, an opportunity, and a responsibility to bring our offerings.

God's Children

God desires people to pray and to plan for the advancement of his work. But, like Cornelius, we are to unite praying with giving. Our prayers and our alms are to come up before God as a memorial. Faith without works is dead; and without a living faith it is impossible to please God.While we pray, we are to give all we possibly can, both of our labor and our means, for the fulfillment of our prayers.

<ul><li>Sin offering</li><li>Thanks offering</li><li>Ministry offering </li></ul>We bring our gifts in response to what God has done for us, especially in the sacrifice of Jesus. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19, NKJV).

Different types of offerings 

Besides tithing, there are offerings, which come from the 90 percent that remains in our possession after our tithe is returned to God.This is where generosity begins.

Love Offering

English idiom says, it is “putting our money where our mouth is.” You can say you love God, but generous offerings help reveal (and even strengthen) that love.

Love God

Our offerings are an evidence of our willingness to self-sacrifice for God. Our offerings rest on the conviction that we have found assurance of salvation in Christ. They are not an appeasement or a search for God’s acceptance. Rather, our offerings flow from a heart that has accepted Christ by faith as the only and sufficient means of grace and redemption.

Evidence 

The church, then, whether it be local, conference, or worldwide, uses our gifts to advance the cause of God.

Advance The Cause Of God

<ul><li>study/preaching, </li><li>prayer, </li><li>music, and </li><li>tithes and offerings.</li></ul>

Four things are present in worship services

What do your offerings, and your attitude about giving them, say about your relationship to God?

Relationship To God 

In fact, we are told, “The Lord does not need our offerings. We cannot enrich Him by our gifts. Says the psalmist: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ Yet God permits us to show our appreciation of His mercies by self-sacrificing efforts to extend the same to others. This is the only way in which it is possible for us to manifest our gratitude and love to God. He has provided no other.” — Counsels on Stewardship, p. 18.

Read Mark 12:41-44. Jesus and His disciples were in the temple courtyard where the treasury chests were located, and He watched those who were bringing their gifts. A widow had given two copper coins. She had put in all that she had. “But Jesus understood her motive. She did what she could.

God Takes Note of Our Offerings

Mary’s gift was worth 300 denarii — a full year’s wages. It was, most likely, a “big jar” gift. Judas betrayed Jesus for a little more than one third of that amount — a “little jar” gift, 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:15). It takes real love and commitment to make big jar gifts — from our investments. But when we get greedy, like Judas, we can sell our souls for next to nothing.

The Bible tells many such stories.

True worship, isn’t just expressing in words and songs and prayer our thankfulness and gratitude to God, but also expressing that thankfulness and gratitude to God by the bringing of our offerings to the house of the Lord.They brought it to the temple; we bring it to the church on Sabbath (at least as one way to return our tithe and offerings), an act of worship.

Central Part Of Worship Experience 

What has been your own experience with the role of returning tithe and offerings as part of worship? How does the practice impact your relationship with God?

Experience God

Apparently, not only are our prayers heard in heaven, but the motive of our gifts is also noted. The passage notes that Cornelius was a generous giver. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21, NKJV). The heart of Cornelius followed his gifts. He was ready to learn more about Jesus.

Our Motives

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself” ” The first is revealed in prayer, the second in almsgiving.

Research has shown that only about 9 percent of people’s assets are liquid and could be contributed as an offering on a moment’s notice. Most people give their offerings or contributions from the small jar — from their liquid assets. This is what they have in their checking account or pocketbook. But when someone really gets excited about something, they give from the big jar.

Special Projects: Big Jar Giving

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

Handling God's business here on Earth by giving Offerings. 

Bible Study Guide 1st Qtr 2023: 'Managing for the Master - Till He Comes'. Includes links to Bible texts, study aids and Adventist discussion blog.

ELLEN G. WHITE

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