Managing for the Master

Quarter 1, Lesson 4
“Offerings for Jesus”
www.MichiganSSPM.org

MEMORY VERSE: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward
me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will
pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people.” Psalm 116:12-14, NKJV
LESSON STUDY INTRO
• “This week we will review what the Bible has to say about
offerings as part of our management of God’s business on the
earth” (Qtly, Sab, part 2).
1. We give to God as God has given to us (Sab, Sun)
• Love gives—and God is love (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:25; 1 John 4:8, 16).
o Christ was given, not merely loaned (Jn. 3:16).
In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that
is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us… [The
Father] gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He
gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace,
God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever
to retain His human nature. DA 25, emphasis supplied
• We love God, and thus we give to God, because He first loved us
and gave to us (1 John 4:19).
o “When we consider the magnitude of God’s gifts to us, we then
begin to see our giving as more than just paving the parking lot or
buying choir robes. We bring our gifts in response to what God has
done for us, especially in the sacrifice of Jesus” (Qtly, Sab, par 2).
2. The Lord rightfully expects our freewill offerings (Mon, Tue, Thu)
• Our freewill offerings are given in response to God’s goodness.
o Since God has so richly given to us, it is only reasonable for Him to
expect offerings of gratitude in return (Dt. 16:17; Lk. 12:48; Ex.
35:21).
o Unlike tithe, which is always exactly 10%, offerings are freewill in
the sense that there is not a set amount the Lord requires.
• Thus, our offerings are variable but not optional (Ps. 116:12-14).
o The practice of consistently giving freewill offerings help us become
more like Jesus, who gave everything for our redemption (see Qtly,
Mon, par 2-4).
 • The centrality of tithes and offerings is seen in the fact that
worship in both the Old and New Testaments involved
monetary giving (Dt. 16:16).
o “Worship, true worship, isn’t just expressing in words and songs
• prayer our thankfulness and gratitude to God, but also
and
expressing that thankfulness and gratitude to God by the bringing
of our offerings to the house of the Lord” (Qtly, Tue, part 3).
• True giving should involve our entire portfolio and not merely
the smaller, liquid portion (Mk 14:3-9).
o “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” (Qtly,
Thu, par 1-3).
3. The sincerity of our giving is most important to God (Wed-Fri)
• As an act of worship, God weighs the sincerity of our giving (Mk.
12:41-44; Acts 10:1-4; 2 Cor. 9:7).
o Even the potential misuse of tithe and offering on the part of
those to whom it is entrusted is not a reason to neglect giving to
the Lord through His church.
• “Another very significant point is that this (the widow’s two
coins) is the only gift Jesus ever commended—a gift to a church
that was just about to reject Him, a church that greatly deviated
from its calling and mission” (Qtly, Wed, par 2).
I was shown that the recording angel makes a faithful record of every offering
dedicated to God and put into the treasury, and also of the final result of the
means thus bestowed. The eye of God takes cognizance of every farthing
devoted to His cause, and of the willingness or reluctance of the giver. The
motive in giving is also chronicled. Those self-sacrificing, consecrated ones
who render back to God the things that are His, as He requires of them, will
be rewarded according to their works. Even though the means thus
consecrated be misapplied, so that it does not accomplish the object which
the donor had in view,—the glory of God and the salvation of souls,—those
who made the sacrifice in sincerity of soul, with an eye single to the glory of
God, will not lose their reward. 2T 518 (Qtly, Fri, par 1)
CONCLUSION
• “In the worship service to God, offerings reveal the quality of
our commitment and who we are as worshippers. As a faith
exercise, offerings express our gratitude and strengthen our
love for the Lord and for His cause” (Qtly, T.E., p. 52, par 2).