HOLY OFFERING

Evg. Salvatore Frisella  | @FRISELLA

HOLY OFFERINGS

I Believe, Proclaim, and Teach

I believe, proclaim, and teach that God has ordained the faithful giving of His people to support the work of the Gospel, care for those who minister, provide for the needs of the saints, and advance the work of the New Testament church.

Giving is not merely a financial obligation; it is an act of worship, obedience, faith, gratitude, and love toward God. Everything we possess ultimately belongs to Him, and we are stewards of what He has entrusted to us.

The principle of tithing appears in Scripture before the giving of the Mosaic Law. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek after receiving the blessing of God (Genesis 14:17–20), demonstrating that the giving of a tenth was known before the Law of Moses was established.

Under the Law, God specifically declared the tithe to be holy unto Him:

“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.”
—Leviticus 27:30

Jesus also affirmed the practice of tithing while confronting the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He did not condemn their tithing; rather, He condemned their emphasis on outward religious observance while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith:

“These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
—Matthew 23:23

The New Testament church continued the principle of giving, but it emphasizes that Christian giving is to flow from the heart. Paul instructed believers to give deliberately, proportionately, generously, and cheerfully:

“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.”
—1 Corinthians 16:2

And again:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
—2 Corinthians 9:7

Therefore, I believe that tithing provides a biblical pattern and foundation for honoring God with our possessions, while New Testament giving calls believers beyond mere obligation into generosity that reflects the grace of Christ.

Giving Begins With Giving Ourselves to the Lord

The greatest offering a believer can make is not money. It is himself.

The churches of Macedonia demonstrated this principle. Though they were experiencing severe affliction and deep poverty, they gave generously because they had first given themselves to the Lord:

“For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves... but first gave their own selves to the Lord.”
—2 Corinthians 8:3, 5

Christian giving therefore begins with surrender. We do not give in order to purchase God's favor. We give because God's grace has already been extended to us.

The offering becomes an expression of the heart that has already been surrendered to Christ.

Giving Supports the Work of the Gospel

God has established His people as stewards and has provided giving as one of the means by which the work of ministry is supported.

Paul instructed the churches to collect offerings for the needs of fellow believers:

“Now concerning the collection for the saints...”
—1 Corinthians 16:1

The offering was used to meet genuine needs and to strengthen the fellowship of believers.

Paul also taught that those who minister the Gospel have a legitimate right to receive support from the Gospel:

“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
—1 Corinthians 9:14

Therefore, giving supports the proclamation of the Gospel, the ministry of the church, the care of God's people, and practical works of mercy.

Giving Is an Act of Worship and Trust

The first biblical example of tithing is found in Abraham. After God gave him victory over his enemies, Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God.

“And he gave him tithes of all.”
—Genesis 14:20

Abraham's giving followed God's blessing. His offering was an acknowledgment that his victory and possessions ultimately came from God.

This principle remains important for believers. We do not give because God needs our money. We give because giving acknowledges that God is the possessor of heaven and earth.

Everything we have ultimately comes from Him.

Giving Should Be Generous and Cheerful

The New Testament does not present giving as something Christians should do reluctantly or under manipulation.

Paul writes:

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
—2 Corinthians 9:6

But he immediately explains the heart God desires:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
—2 Corinthians 9:7

Christian giving is therefore intentional. We should prayerfully determine what we will give, recognizing that God has entrusted different resources to different people.

The Macedonians provide a powerful example. They were not wealthy, yet their joy and generosity exceeded their circumstances:

“Their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
—2 Corinthians 8:2

Generosity is therefore not ultimately measured by how much a person possesses. It is measured by the heart with which he gives.

God Supplies So That We Can Continue Giving

Scripture teaches that God is able to provide for His people so that they may continue to abound in good works:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
—2 Corinthians 9:8

Paul continues:

“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”
—2 Corinthians 9:11

The purpose of God's provision is not merely personal accumulation. God blesses His people so that they can become a blessing to others.

The result is thanksgiving to God.

When believers give faithfully, needs are supplied, ministry is strengthened, God is glorified, and thanksgiving rises to Him.

The Blessing of Giving

Jesus taught a principle of generosity:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.”
—Luke 6:38

This passage teaches that generosity has consequences. The person who gives freely places his resources in God's hands rather than living with a closed fist.

At the same time, biblical giving should never be reduced to a promise that every financial gift will produce a specific financial return. Scripture's emphasis is broader: God supplies His people, enables generosity, meets needs, produces thanksgiving, and rewards faithful obedience according to His wisdom.

The Tithe and the New Testament Believer

The tithe was explicitly established under the Mosaic covenant, and Scripture records the practice before the Law as well. Jesus acknowledged tithing in Matthew 23:23, while the New Testament church was instructed to give regularly, proportionately, sacrificially, generously, and cheerfully.

Therefore, I believe that the tithe is a sound biblical pattern for beginning our giving and honoring God with the first portion of what He provides. Yet Christian giving should never stop at asking, “What is the minimum I must give?”

Grace teaches us to ask a greater question:

“Lord, what would You have me give?”

The goal is not merely to meet a percentage. The goal is to become a faithful steward.

The Purpose of Holy Offerings

Our giving should accomplish the purposes Scripture establishes:

• To honor God with what He has entrusted to us.

• To support the proclamation of the Gospel.

• To provide for the ministry of the church.

• To support those who faithfully minister the Word.

• To meet the needs of fellow believers.

• To assist those who are poor and in genuine need.

• To advance works of mercy and ministry.

• To demonstrate the sincerity of our love.

• To produce thanksgiving and glory to God.

Paul summarized the result of generous Christian giving:

“For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.”
—2 Corinthians 9:12

Holy offerings are therefore much more than money placed into an offering plate.

They are an expression of worship.

They are an acknowledgment that God owns everything.

They are a demonstration of faith.

They are an expression of love.

They are a means of meeting needs.

They are a means of advancing the Gospel.

And when given with the right heart, they become an occasion for people to give “thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” —2 Corinthians 9:15