When Christians speak of an offering, they usually think of the time in the service when a monetary offering is given. We think of the tithe, the 10% that is given based on what God required in the Bible. The tithe wasn’t always money, but it represented what God had blessed them with. The first recorded offering we see is in Genesis chapter 4.
Genesis 4:3-7 “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
Verses 3-5 imply that God had given to Adam and his sons specific instructions about the timing and method of worship. However, Cain and Able had different offerings and one was accepted and one was not. Hebrews 11:4 tells us, Able’s offering was by faith. In I John 3:12, Cain was “of the wicked one,” and that is why God did not accept his offering, or worship, because his works were evil. This offering revealed his heart. His anger and resentment toward his brother resulted in the murder of his brother.
Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
I John 3:12 “I John 3:12 “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.”
In Luke 21:1-4, we have the account of the widow who was very poor, yet she gave all she had. The rich gave out of their abundance, but she out of penury, which means extreme poverty. In God’s eyes, she had given more than anyone. Just like the example of Cain and Able, it wasn’t about the gift. It was about the heart.
Luke 21:1-4 “And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”
God has instructed us all to give. We are to not only give a tithe, but we are to give an offering. The giving portion of the worship service is the only time when everyone can participate. We can all give according to the blessings God has given us. The poor person’s offering can make as much difference in the kingdom as a rich person. The offering is a sacred time, and it is to be a worshipful time. It is not just an opportunity for some to place money in the offering plate. It should be a time when we are all serious and contemplate the blessings of God. It bothers me greatly when people talk or act as if it’s just a passing of time, while someone collects money.
I wonder if our attitude and manner of receiving the offering sometimes cause God to reject it as he did Cain’s offering. Do we give out of our abundance, or out of our want? What is our attitude? Are we a Cain, or are we the Widow?
