BENEFITS OF OFFERING
Psalm 20:1-9
We are concluding this study on offerings by looking at its benefits to us as believers. Offerings do not go unnoticed by God. No. God takes note of every acceptable offering made to him either in the sanctuary or anywhere else. The first benefit of offerings we should take note of is that God remembers it. He does not forget any. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble . . . Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Psalm 20:1,3
Once your offering is acceptable to God, it goes into the book of remembrance. It will be there until there is a need for it and then it will be called forth. In Acts 10, there was a man called Cornelius. He was a gentile that delighted in giving offerings and alms even though he did not really know God. But when the need arose, God remembered all his offerings. The angel told him that his “prayers and alms are come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). By his offerings, his household was saved.
Going back to our text today, one will find various things that happened when God remembers your offerings. As already quoted above, the Lord will hear your cry in the day of trouble and send you the needed help. This means that you can never be stranded in the journey of life. Your offering have gone ahead as insurance for the days of trouble. When trouble comes knocking, God remembers your offering and sends you help. He will grant you according to your heart’s desires and fulfill your counsel. You will have answers to your prayer.
Offerings also serve as provokers of God’s intervention in human affairs. Remember Solomon? When he first gave a thousand burnt offerings, God appeared to him in a dream by night and asked him to ask for anything. By this, Solomon became the wisest as well as the richest king. Another time, at the dedication of the temple, he made thousands of burnt offerings and the Lord appeared to him again with the promise of everlasting presence and answered prayers at the temple.
Beloved, offerings are not charity acts made to help the church or the pastor. Rather, they are covenant acts between you and the Almighty God. It carries a lot of benefits. It provokes God to intervene in your affairs. It brings God to act on your side. It attracts God’s blessing on your life. Your prosperity is right inside your offering as contained in Luke 6:38. As you keep on giving your offerings in line with the principles outlined in this study, watch how God will visit you with enormous blessings and your life will never remain the same.
MEDITATION: 2 Corinthians 8:7
