ACCEPTABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE OFFERINGS P
MARCOS FAIOCK BOMFIM
lenty of indications in the Bible imply that the Lord evaluates, assesses, and rates our giving or its absence. The fact that He purposedly sat opposite the treasury (Mark 12:41) and that He rated the poor widow’s offering (Mark 12:43) should tell us that even today, He is watching and assessing our giving patterns. Another important truth is that some offerings are accepted and valued by Him, while others, irrespective of their amount, cannot be accepted and become even offensive to Him. What are
dynamic steward
some of the conditions for God to accept an offering? 1. When it is presented by a heart that is right with God. (Psalm 40:6–8; 51:16, 17; Isaiah 1:10–13; Hosea 6:6; Malachi 3:2–5; Matthew 9:13; Mark 12:33) According to Malachi 3, God accepts those offerings that are brought “in righteousness” (verse 3), that is, by those who have allowed God to purify, to refine them (verses 2, 3) from sins such as sorcery, adultery, perjury, overreaching or oppressing hirelings in their wages, and oppression of the
vulnerable and foreigners (verse 5), to mention a few. Only then will “the offerings . . . be acceptable to the Lord” (verse 4, NIV). It becomes clear that the Lord evaluates the giver before the gift. The best and biggest offering will never be accepted if the one who brings it is not right with God. Thus, we need to bring a “heart offering” before we bring a “monetary offering.” We bring a “heart offering” when we regularly take time daily to allow the Holy Spirit to examine our thoughts and inclinations, comparing them with the Word
January-March 2023
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