Acceptable Giving
Oftentimes money is contributed to the Lord that He does not accept. The local church treasurer puts the money in the bank but the Almighty does not mark it down as acceptable worship. When Ananias and his wife went to church (Acts 5) they gave liberally-nearly everything they had. Actually they had sold all they owned, kept something for themselves, and gave .all the rest to the Lord. But it was not acceptable worship, for they told a falsehood about it. They told they did not keep back anything for themselves. Today a man can keep his mouth shut and commit the sin of Acts 5: if he does not give as he is prospered, yet allows men to think he is, there is no difference between him and Ananias.
Giving as worship is a serious thing. We can give to our friends, give to kinfolks, freely and loosely. But when we bring the Lord into the matter, and count the giving as worship, then we must go to the Book to find His will. One of His first requirements is that there shall be
No Display
"Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee." (Matt. 6:1-4).
No Merchandising
When a man has to be baited with pie and coffee to give two prices to "the Lord's cause," that man loves his pie more than the Lord, and that kind of giving is not worship. Free-will offerings have always been the Lord's plan. Moses was commanded to take an offering "of every man whose heart maketh him willing." (Ex. 25:2) And He has told us to give "not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (II Cor. 9:7)
No Gambling
When a man agrees to give to the Lord by way of bingo parties and other "religious gambling," nobody could say such is worship. It is just an excuse to gamble. And the church that advocates such is just after money, anyway it can get it.
Worshipful Giving
- Purposing. If a brother only thinks of his offering when the basket starts around, and then gives whatever change happens to be in his pocket, it is vain worship. Paul commanded (II Cor. 9:7) that a brother plan ahead, purpose, pledge what he is going to give. Little or great, he must purpose it ahead of time. The Lord has not set any assessment percentage; He has not done the purposing for us; but every man, according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give. "But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
- Quietly. Worshipful giving is not ostentatious. A devout man does not make a big-to-do about his giving; he is giving to his Lord; he does not advertise his righteousness.
- Cheerfully. To give with a frown, or to give as if it is an unpleasant duty, of necessity, is not worship. No matter if I give a thousand dollars, unless cheerfully offered, it is empty worship.
God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.