THE BIBLE AND IMPROPER OFFERINGS

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

THE BIBLE AND IMPROPER OFFERINGS

Devotional Text: Gen. 4:1-7

INTRODUCTION:

The story of Cain and Abel shows that God looks at certain offerings with favour and some with disfavour. To this end, the Holy Scripture records that... “Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. but, Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborns of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favour”... the Lord’s reason for acceptance of Abel’s offering and the rejection of that of Cain is unknown, though, some adduce that Abel’s offering was accepted because of its blood implication. However, later in the Old Testament both animal and agricultural offerings were both accepted by God, which readily suggests that Cain’s problem was his attitude.

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)       Improper offering is in place when the giver fails to acknowledge that the LORD GOD deserves the best, (Gen. 4:3-5)

(2)       Cain’s offering was improper because he did not consider the person and greatness of the LORD, (vs.3-5)

(3)       Abel’s offering was proper because he considered that the LORD GOD deserves the best, (vs. 3-5)

(4)       The LORD GOD does not look at improper offering and the giver with favour, (vs. 3-5)

YOUR OFFERING AND GOD’S HONOUR

“Honour the LORD with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your increase, so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine”, (Prov.3:9-10). To honour the LORD with your wealth is to use it for His services and glory, and this implies that it should not be used for any activities that would promote Satan and his demonic kingdom, (see Deut. 8:18-19). In this connection, it becomes biblically obvious that one’s wealth should be expended in honour of the LORD, who gives the power to get wealth (vs. 19). Therefore, improper offering comes to play when the aforementioned is not considered, and this, no doubt, pictures the reason behind the rejection of Cain’s offering by the LORD, (Gen.4:3-5). Based on the above, this lesson states that improper offering is in place when:

(i)              One arrogates the honour to oneself in one’s offering to God, (Prov. 3:9-10)

(ii)            The giver fails to acknowledge that only the LORD GOD deserves the honour in his offering, (vs. 9-10)

(iii)           An attitude of not considering God’s honour is in place in one’s giving exercise, (Gen.4:3-5)

OUR OFFERING AND GOD’S FAVOUR

God’s favour in offering comes when one offers one’s best, and the best which God desires in offering is not just the quantum of what one gives, but the attitude of honour which goes with the gift. Abel had this quality, since he considered that the LORD deserves his respect and the best of his produce. But, Cain was the opposite, and so, the LORD GOD did not favour his offering, (Gen.4:3-5). When one honours the LORD by offering the best out of one’s produce, in cash, kind and attitude, there is plenty and increase, (Prov. 3:9-10). But, when reverse is the case, there is disfavour which eventually leads to anger and downcast which result in the crouching of sin, (Gen. 4:5-7). By this, therefore, the believer is biblically enjoined to cultivate an attitude of honouring the LORD in his offerings, as a way of bringing blessing to himself, instead of becoming disrespectful and stingy when he offers his gifts to GOD, which makes one retrogressive, and implies that improper offering:

(i)                    Cannot attract God’s favour to the giver, (vs. 5)

(ii)                  Brings one into a situation of Divine Rejection and sorrow, (vs. 6-7)

(iii)                 Offers no increase or plenty to the giver, (Prov. 3:9-10)

YOUR OFFERING AND SELF INDICTMENT

The Holy Scripture which says ... “if you are offering your gifts at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift (Matt. 5:23-24) shows that it is improper to offer a gift to GOD when there is a conscience prick, indicating that one has something against one who intends to offer the gifts, and implies that offences against others could make one’s offering improper before the LORD. This is a spiritual law that should not be toiled with, as it could lead to one’s offering becoming a meaningless exercise that gathers no reward from the LORD. The foregoing, therefore, calls for self-examination as one intends to offer one’s gifts to GOD, and requires concerted efforts in redressing all forms of injustices which one tries to suppress within the realm of the conscience, especially any matter which the offended has put up a hearty complaint to the offender, (see Matt. 18:15-18). To this end, this lesson equally opines that it is improper to:

(i)                    Offer one’s gift to GOD without reconciling with one that one knows one has offended, (Matt. 5:23-24)

(ii)                  Present an offering to the LORD, while suppressing a conscience prick, urging one to drop the

offences one has maintained against one, (vs. 23-24)

(iii)                 Maintain a malicious attitude against someone while offering one’s gift to the LORD, Vs. 23-24)

In conclusion, please be clarified that improper offering is a matter of attitude which Cain is the foremost example, (Gen. 4:3-5). However, this same attitude has become rampant in both  the Christian Church and society, and so, this lesson is a call for a change of heart, in keeping with what pleases the LORD in offering. PLEASE CONSIDER!