Cleansing the Offering

As I hear many calling for the cleansing of the Church, ministers, pastors, prophets, apostles, elders, few are calling for the cleansing of the offering. Interestingly, God starts there. God, speaking through the prophet Malachi, says, “I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me…And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:1, 3. Just in case you missed it, before God does anything, He cleanses the offering. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.

Now, I can already hear some of the arguments being raised by some: Jesus is the perfect offering, the offering ended with Him. Yet, the Apostle Paul doesn’t say that when believers support His apostolic work. Rather, he says, “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18, NIV. Yes, the Apostle Paul considered the monetary gifts given by the Philippians an offering to God.

From Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, the offering has played a significant part in Biblical theology. Think about Cain and Abel and the first murder in the scriptures being related to the offering. Father Abraham and the sacrifice of his son Isaac on Mount Moriah as a type and shadow of Christ. Elijah calling fire down from heaven on an altar during the evening offering to defeat the prophets of Baal and Ashteroth on Mount Carmel. The early Church, their giving, and Ananias and Sapphira deaths. The offering was and is considered important, holy, and the primary means by which God would provide for His ministers.

One third of Leviticus is devoted to the offering. That book was crucial in training those called to the priesthood how to conduct themselves as priests. Yes, appropriate conduct was required. Receiving the offering meant being cleansed by God to receive it. When those receiving the offering were in error, the people of Israel suffered. But the people were taught to give. The tribe of Levi depended on the offering for their survival. When the people sank into sin and stopped giving, the priesthood suffered. Malachi brought the priests and the people back to the basics. Give. Give something sacrificial. And make sure you have the right heart and attitude. Simple.

Malachi makes his point clear: Don’t disrespect God by giving Him nothing. Don’t disrespect God by giving Him something that costs you nothing. Don’t disrespect God by failing to bring Him the right amount — the tithe. Make sure you understand who God is when you give to Him not if you give to Him. God deserves more than we can give; He owns it all. He’s allowed us to participate with Him by giving us what we have. The offering reveals our heart toward God…always. That was true in the days when the Old Covenant governed. And it’s true today under the New Covenant.

Yet, much of the Church doesn’t truly understand or care about the offering. For many, it’s a way to show we back a man or woman’s vision. We support the churches we attend…maybe. We give because we feel compelled to give, as the offering basket goes by. And we miss what the offering is about — a revelation of our hearts. When we give, where we give, how we give, and to whom we give reveals a great deal about us. God designed it that way. And God does measure what we give. Jesus did. “Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money.” Mark 12:41, NLT.

Jesus watched then. And Jesus watches now. Yes, He looks at what we give, how we give, how much or how little we give, and He looks at our motives in our giving. Your giving, or lack thereof, is an open book before God. That the offering has been corrupted, polluted, and maligned is obvious. At times, even ministers despise their reliance on the offering. Sound familiar?! Malachi read our number years ago when he wrote what he wrote. The prophet called it like he saw it — the offering was in ruins, was being treated as unholy, and needed to be cleansed.

That’s where we are today. To all those collecting the offering, prepare to give an account. To all those who are giving offerings, prepare for the books to be opened. To all those not giving or giving God what is substandard, God’s got your number. Yes, the offering is holy. It was holy in the Old Testament. And it was holy in the New Testament. Just ask Ananias and Saphhira.

They got it wrong. And the paid the price. They failed to consider this truth: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31. By the way, that’s New Testament not Old Testament. I think we need an attitude adjustment. I think we should consider how we individually treat the offering. Yes, God is about to cleanse the offering. And by doing that, He will cleanse His Church. Selah.

Let us pray!

— Scott Wallis