Saturday, July 08, 2006

If God doesn't need anything, why do we give offertory gifts?

In Acts 17: 24&25 Paul shares an enlightening perspective on God. He says that the God who made the world and everything in it " is not served by human hands , as if he needed anything. Rather he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else". God is the giver not the receiver. This passage prompts the question why God asks for our offertory gifts when he does not need anything?

As I've pondered this question a human parallel comes to mind. Parents of young children will often have their child give gifts on special occasions ( birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas). The parent generally creates the opportunity to give because it is not the child's natural inclination to do so. The child must be taught. Whatever resources (money) that are used to buy the gift must be given to the child and then the child is allowed to participate in the acquisition and giving of the gift. It is rare that the child gives a gift that the recipient could not have purchased for themselves. The goal in the process isn't the gift itself but rather the lessons that the child learns. The lessons are about relationships. They are about love, honor, gratitude and respect. On the surface it appears that the child is the giver but in actuality he is the receiver.

God does not ask for our gifts that He might add to His wealth. First, He gives of His wealth to us. Then He creates opportunities for us to give a portion back to Him. This is done for our benefit. He is teaching us and nurturing us that we might draw closer to Him in a deeper, fuller relationship. We give to Him not of substance that we actually own but of substance that we have received. He then gives to us the depths of Himself. We receive, then give but in doing so we receive the greater gift.