A while ago, someone told me about his father who has made it a duty to attend church services but decided never to give any offering in church. He said he claimed that the offerings given by church members are used by the pastors to enrich their own lives while the members remain impoverished.
This person believed that his father was right. However, I tried to make him see that intentionally refusing to give offerings even though he could, was a wrong decision to make but I desired to give him a scriptural reference which I was not able to lay my hand on at that point when we chatted.
Alas, on the following morning, I was led to start reading Leviticus and then I got to the verse quoted below.
The priests are to burn only a representative portion of the offering, but all of it will be fully appreciated by the Lord. The remainder belongs to the priests for their own use, but it is all counted as a holy burnt offering to the Lord. -Lev 2vs9(TLB)
“Eureka! I found the perfect answer to this guy’s indirect question”, I thought to myself.
It is none of your business how the money you give to the Lord is used. Why should you bother yourself with irrelevant investigations?
The Living Bible makes it clear that God appreciates the WHOLE OFFERING. The priests were given the go-ahead to take care of themselves and their families from a portion of the offerings.
Besides, the Bible says not to muzzle the mouth of the ox while it works. Why then do you intend to tie up the mouth of these servants of God.
Leave them to answer directly to the Lord.
Can you remember what happened to the sons of Eli? They intentionally picked all the better parts of the animals that were offered to the Lord. They were expected to dip the fork into the pot and anything that the fork picked was what they were allowed to possess but they disobeyed the law because of their greed. God did not let it slide. They were surly dealt with for their unfaithfulness.
I think what you should worry about should be if your offering deserves to be accepted by God.
Is your offering defaced?
Have you given it bountifully, cheerfuly and without grudge?
Have you brought your offering while you are harbouring unforgiveness in your heart?
These are the questions you should ask.
God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Seek the Lord with all your heart. Give your best to Him and wait for the harvest time. God owes no man. He is ever faithful.
– OMOSEBI, Mary Omolola (PhD)
When they pay tax to the government, be it a country that uses the money wisely or not, do they ask the governement questions on the application of the tax?
People sha!
May God help human beings with the way we think some times. We can be funny. Thanks for this comparison Cynthia 😊
God bless you ma for this
Amen!
God bless you too