ARE OUR OFFERINGS PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD?
By Rev. Paulus Budiono
Lemah Putro, Sunday, January 5, 2020
Shalom,
God has poured out His blessings (salvation, breath of life, health, strength to face life's challenges, etc.) throughout 2019. What have we given Him as our thanksgiving for His care toward us? Did we miss many opportunities by not giving our thanksgiving offerings to Him? Or did we feel proud because we had offered a lot and been active in the ministry?
As social beings, men cannot live alone without the help of others. We need one another; therefore, we have to interact with others which is marked with "take and give". There are many ways to give and be accepted, depending on how close the relationship is between the giver and the recipient.
How did the Apostle Paul respond to the gift from the Philippians? Philippians 4:18 wrote, “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.”
Before giving something to someone, firstly we consider what (big, small, expensive, cheap, beneficial, entertaining, etc.) to give and to whom (old-young, male-female, rich-poor, friend-officer etc.). What gift did the Apostle Paul receive that he valued it to be pleasing and favorable to God? How could the Apostle Paul believe that the gift of the church to him pleasing to God? What is the benchmark of God that our giving is acceptable to Him?
How far do we know God that we are convinced that our offerings are pleasing to Him? Illustration: When we get to know someone well, we will not give something meaningless but it will be something they love. We need to know what gifts are pleasing to God without comparing them with others which can create the feelings of superiority or inferiority.
Who is the God whom we should know? He is the Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1: 1). Actually, He does not need our gifts because whatever we offer to Him comes from Him. John 1:1, 14 say, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God… The Word became flesh (sarx: flesh) and made His dwelling among us…” He came to this dark world to give light (v. 9). Have we welcomed Him? Have our hearts been enlightened while reading the Bible? Do we know that the more we read the Bible the more we know Him and closer to Him?
Why should we offer sacrifices that God approves? Is the tithe for God or for the pastor or for the church which is used for church maintenance and activities? We should have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5) hence our behavior be acceptable to God so that the church of God at the end of this age will not be more distant from each other (pastors-elders, deacons-congregations, choirs-orchestra etc.) that only collaborate at certain events.
What did man first give to God? Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden because they fell into sin. Their children, Cain and Abel, offered the result of their work. God accepted Abel's offering not because of its form (firstborn lamb) but because he offered it by faith (Hebrews 11: 4). It turned out that the first offering outside the Garden of Eden was already marked with difference.
The lesson: husband-wife who have chaotic marriage will have an impact on children who might not enjoy the atmosphere of marriage in the Garden of Eden. God does not see the great and precious gifts but faith. That is why God reminded Cain that if he did good, his heart would not be bitterly fiery and his face would not be gloomy (Genesis 4: 6-7).
The offerings must begin with a joyful heart in God, the Giver of our lives. Children who are ready to go out of their parents’ house to make their own family should maintain the harmony and give the offerings to one Person, God the Creator.
God knows when you are laughing but your heart is full of bitterness; He also knows when we have a sad face (because we were bruised black and blue) but our heart is full of joy just like the Apostle Paul who did so, because he knew Him.
Application: pastors-elders should get to know the congregation that is being pastored well and improve the ministry, so that they are not mistaken / missing the goal that can lead to different perceptions because they do not prioritize / focus on one Person, that is God.
What fatal mistake was made by King Saul so that God rejected him and plucked his position as king? Through Samuel, God commanded Saul to destroy all Amalekites and livestock without leaving a single one because the Amalekites had prevented the Israelites from leaving Egypt (1 Samuel 15: 2-3). But what did Saul do? He destroyed the Amalekites but captured (allowed life) Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and did not kill the best goats, sheep, cattle for the reason that they were to be offered to God (vv. 14-15). Does God really want good, fat, expensive gifts like people who generally like good and expensive gifts? Does the church also like people who are great and smart then get rid of those who are weak (because they are considered troublesome. Then competition arises because each of them wants to show off the greatness of ideas, skills, sweet voices etc.)?
What does the Word of God say? “Enough” Samuel said to Saul (which means: be quiet). “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel… But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” (vv. 16-17, 22-23)
There are times men need to be shocked by the voice of the Word of God in hard tone to let Him speak. Saul seemed humble (consider himself small) and God chose him and appointed him as a head / king. After Saul became king, he changed; his heart was full of greed, evidently he preferred the fat of rams rather than listening to God's commands. Clearly, Saul did not live close to God.
Introspection: are we still small (humble) after being chosen and appointed by God in the ministry? We don't go to a shaman, keep talismans etc. but is our heart full of greed like King Saul? Beware, even though we are humble, if we are not close to God, pride will emerge. God does not see what we have done but what motivation is in our hearts.
What about the conditions of the early church? They lived in one heart, one soul and assumed that all things belong together so that no one lives in needs (Acts 4: 32,34-35). It is totally different from the condition of the church today. Each is busy with their own interests so that there are congregation members who face difficulties in daily life. Why? Because they are not in one heart and one mind. Let’s return to the Giver and get to know Him better so that our charity is not in vain.
Why doesn't God want to judge materially? Because He is the Owner of a rich and needy congregation, a church of extraordinary and simple wisdom, a congregation in urban and rural areas, a congregation that is both strong and weak and so on. God doesn’t want us to discriminate by looking down on the weak and then flattering the strong.
However, there were exceptions in the congregation in the early church. If Barnabas sold his field and then brought the money to the apostles to be shared (Acts 4: 36-37), Ananias and Sapphira also sold the land but they were both one-heartedly deceiving the Holy Spirit by holding back part of the sale. Wasn't it true that the money received was still theirs, why did they have to lie? The result was terrible, they both died without ever enjoying money from the sale of land.
We must be careful regarding to money. If you want to sacrifice money, give honestly without reducing the amount set from the beginning. Has God ever reduced our salvation?
Jesus greatly appreciated the offering of Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with the oil of the nard (John 12: 3) and poured the oil on His head (Mark 14: 3). Jesus did not judge the cost of the oil but saw the heart of Mary which was linked to His death. For us now, how good is the witness of our lives being “smelled” by those around us?
Paul also highly valued the Philippians' offerings which he considered to smell good, a sacrifice which was pleasing and acceptable to God. Why did he say that? Wasn't he imprisoned and didn't need a lot of necessities (food and clothing) and funds? The Philippian church continued giving the offerings through Epaphroditus (Philippians 4: 14-18) to advance the preaching of the gospel. The Philippians had a good spiritual outlook. The Apostle Paul honestly said that he received abundant offerings, but the blessing was not used for himself, yet was distributed to fellow workers such as Titus, Timothy, etc. for the spread of the gospel of Christ.
We need honest servants of God and people who are willing to sacrifice for the development and progress of the gospel. Do not judge the appearance of a pastor who has been blessed by God then divert the blessings to others who are more in need. Likewise with tithing. We must return the tithe because it belongs to God. Do not be arrogant to give tithe even in large amounts because in fact we have not given any offerings to God yet. Also do not try to bring up tithes and determine that it should be used by whom and for what! Remember, because of faith, Abel made offerings to God. If our offerings are only for God, our faith will grow. Don't make offerings because you see the church and the pastor!
Further, Psalms 40:4-8 write, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire – but my ears you have opened – burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel” I am God, your God. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine,… If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me… Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” (Psalm 50:7-10; 12-15, 23)
It is very clear that God prefers us to obey His Word rather than sacrifice. He perceives the heart not the value of the material we give Him because He owns everything. We should think like Him so that our offerings are right on target. We don't need to be arrogant because we feel we can give. Remember, Jesus gave the greatest sacrifice that was His own body that could not be measured and compared with anything else. He came to fulfill the plan of God, willing to die for our salvation because in us, flow the blood of rebels which was inherited from Adam and Eve. His coming as Savior is the beginning of salvation as the fulfillment of God's promise. Blessed are we who receive His greatest gift. He is the only One that can change our hearts and bad characters. As our faith grows, our lives are purified from day to day until we gain the perfection as our Father in heaven is perfect and His perfect love is within us. Amen.