Leviticus 1:3
“‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD.
Leviticus 1:10
“‘…you are to offer a male without defect…’”
God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s offerings. Not all offerings brought during worship will be accepted by God. The church and its leaders can accept an offering but God will reject it. When the church accepts your offerings, it doesn’t mean that God has accepted them. Therefore we need to know what offerings are acceptable and which ones will be rejected.
We need to clear the air that tithe and offerings are not the same thing. Tithes are ten percent of your gross income that must be given back to God. Gross income. Gross profit. When anything is deducted from your gross it is to your benefit so it is yours. Tithe is from gross and not net income. You have no authority over tithes. You can’t give it to the poor. You can’t divert it to help the needy. Tithe is surrendered to the church to support the preachers and preaching of the gospel and nothing else. If you give tithe to the poor or other worthy cause, you have not given it back to God.
we may financially support private ministries that preach what we believe. We can support choirs, preachers and organizations. But we should have it clear in our minds that they are not churches. Tithe goes to the church and not to any private groups. Those individuals and groups we wish to support are given other monies which are offerings. As we give support to private individuals and groups, spare the bigger chunk for the local church you attend, since they have plans and budget that need your support. Helping private groups and individuals should not consequently affect your local church expectations of your support.
Offerings are what are given in addition to the tithe. Offerings have no percentage in scripture. However since human beings, many times crave guidance, it is recommended, take note, it is recommended that offerings to be another ten percent over and above the tithes. Offerings are given as per the need and discretion of the giver. When we help the poor in the streets, that is offering. When we give to build churches or buy stuff for the place of worship, that is offering. Do not forget to give some money for your local church budget, because the church needs money to operate. That money is offerings. It is irresponsible to give money all over everywhere claiming it is offering and then forget the church where you enjoy services that are paid for. Electricity bills, security, cleaning, janitorial staff, etc.
However, the word offerings can also be loosely used to refer to whatever is given in worship. In that generalized sense, tithes and offerings can be referred to as offerings. But you do well to note the difference and always give both. God expects from you both tithes and offerings in every giving session. We will use the word offerings in a highly generalized sense to refer to all that is given in worship.
In our key text today, God emphasizes that the sacrificial offering should be without defect. Without blemish. This is repeated in scripture. What you bring to God during worship, whether tithe or offerings, should be without defect.
In ancient days, animals were given during worship. The animal had to be a good animal. An animal without defect. This was to ensure that people gave God their best flock and not make worship a dumping ground for unwanted animals. If you brought an animal with a defect, your offerings even if accepted by the worship leader, would still be rejected by God. No blessings will come to you. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Matthew 5:23
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
Matthew 5:24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus said if you have unsettled issues with someone, settle it first before giving offerings in worship. Having issues with people is a defect and affect your offerings. If you have grudges and secret plans to harm anyone. If you have harbored hate and ill feelings. It means that all your offerings are defective and have always been rejected. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Many givers are not blessed because their giving is blemished or defective. They give and as a result churches have resources and structures coming up, but the givers are not blessed. The giving was defective. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Tithes are ten percent of your income, if you give less than that your giving is defective. Giving from net income is giving less. Net income is a result of your taxes being go deducted and your loans and your other responsibilities. They are yours. The gross is your income and not the net. If you give tithes without offerings, your giving is defective. If you give offerings and you do not give tithe which you should, your giving is defective. If you help the poor and dish out all money out there, but you do not or you insignificantly support church programs, your giving is defective. God tells Moses that giving must be without defect. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
Ecclesiastes 5:5
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
If you pledge to help orphans but you do nothing or you do less than what you promised, your giving is defective. If you pledge to support the church in certain fundraising or acquisition of what is needed then you delay or give less, your giving is defective. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Ananias and Saphira died on the spot for giving less than what they had pledged. To give less than what you pledged is making your offerings to be defective. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
Our character can also affect our giving. If we are hypocrites, then our giving is defective. We should not think God can be bribed by giving then you continue in sin, no! If you live contrary to faith, your giving is defective. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
The woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume was formerly a prostitute. The anointing was done at the end of Jesus’s ministry. Therefore the income used to buy the perfume may not have come from prostitution. We can’t build a teaching on this unclear text. It is unclear regarding the source of her income. There is no scriptural authority that giving from proceeds of theft and other crimes is accepted.
Matthew 6:1-4
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (2) “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. (3) But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
When we give for show off that giving is defective. We give so that people can note that we gave. God promises never to bless anyone who gives for show-off. Giving for show off is giving an offering that has defects. Giving the poor and then taking pictures for circulation on social media is wrong. Giving and then inviting the media to capture the moment so that you gain mileage of popularity is wrong. We can and should report giving as a testimony and purposely to praise God but not to win people’s favors. Giving to show off is wrong and with defects. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Giving due to pressure is defective giving. God loves a cheerful giver. A forced giver is not acceptable to God. A giver giving under duress of some sermon or grouping and goal setting or even name-calling, is not a cheerful giver. God rejects that offering. It is defective. Without defect! Not all offerings are acceptable!
The decision to accept or reject offerings is basically a divine prerogative unless it is outright offensive. God has shown great tolerance in the past, we should therefore let Him decide whether to accept or reject offerings.
May God help us to give tithes and offerings that are without defect and may blessings be all our beginning today, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on notification and share) –http://youtube.com/reikesis
- Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center) –https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rei+kesis&ref=nb_sb_noss
- Rei Kesis daily blog –https://reikesis.com/
Amen.Clear and profound.A tithe is calculated on the gross income not net.., on the gross profit not net profit.I stand corrected on the matter and God forgive me. I was blind, but now I see.
Thanks Doctor Kesis for the powerful message today.I’m blessed.
Hallelujah!
Whether income or profit, it should be net, not gross.
God bless you!
Oooh Lord may I be faithful give offering and Tithes acceptable before the alter
Amen!
Amen! Well understood and articulated! Blessings
Amen
Amen..
Amen!
May God help me to give tithe and offering without defect. Thank you Pastor for enlightenment.
Amen!
Thank you once again Doc for reminding us about the importance of offerings to our local churches.
Much is learnt on this be blessed.
Amen!
Amen 🙏
May God help me to give tithes and offerings that are without defect and may blessings be all mine beginning today, in the Name of Jesus I pray.
Blessed midweek my friend and Pastor.
LThank you for sharing
Blessings on you too my brother!
God bless you for that wonderful message.
Amen, be blessed too!