Giving is Worship

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV
 
This past Sunday while I was preaching, I skipped over one of my subpoints that was actually really important.  As we were talking about false teachers and about our motivations for giving offerings in church, I talked about bad motivations for giving offerings to the Lord.  One of those bad motivations is that we might receive financial gain or good favor from God in exchange for our offerings. What I failed to mention is what our motivation should be.  Giving offerings to the Lord is an act of Worship! 
 
During a church service there is typically a time where the offering plates or baskets are passed from pew to pew. Some people don’t like passing plates. They typically think it is pushy or that it makes the church look like it is money hungry. I have heard people say that passing the plates distracts or takes away from worship.  But that is lack of an understanding about giving. Giving offerings to the Lord at church is worship! It is part of the worship service not a distraction from the worship service. 
 
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3 ESV
 
Everything we have is the Lord’s. This is His world. He has made it all by His word. Therefore, He owns it all!  As Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign overall, does not cry, Mine!” This means that the things we have are God’s and that the only reason we have them is because God has given them to us. So, when you give offerings in church to God, you are giving back what He has given you. Remember what the Apostle Paul told the Athenians: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything”
(Acts 17:24-25 ESV). God doesn’t NEED your money because everything already belongs to Him, and He is not served by human hands as though he needed anything. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give to the Lord. 
 
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47 ESV (Emphasis added)
 
The church was born in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost and from the very beginning Christians were giving back to God.  Acts 2 shows that the Church was giving as an act of worship as they were responding to the Gospel.  Christ had given His life so that their sin could be paid for, so they could have peace with God and everlasting life. In response they began to give back to the Lord, by giving their offerings to serve others. They wanted to show the Love of Christ in the Gospel and to give because they had been given much.  Today should be no different. We give not to receive salvation but because we have received Salvation. This is how we can be the “cheerful givers” that God loves (2 Corinthians 9:7).
 
So next time you’re in a church service and the offering plates are passed, remember that giving is a part of worship. It’s not about getting something but about giving back to the God who gave you everything you have, who sent His Son to die on a cross to pay your sin debt.