(April 25, 2010) A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang

<A Way to Receive Blessings> (2)

Last Sunday I have mentioned some wrong concepts of making offerings. Now, I would like to share some positive and right attitudes of offerings this week. I believe that the most right attitude of offering is as Paul says, “to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Rm. 12:1) What does it mean?  

First of all, the right concept of making offerings is: Whatever that we have or own which include all kinds of material, property, even our life are not ours forever. We are only temporarily in charge of them. We do not own what-so-ever we have but God does. He is the everlasting owner because He is the Creator. We are only His stewards who temporarily own on this earth. When the time comes the temporary ownership will be shifted or replaced by others. Furthermore, after we depart from this world, our Lord will settle accounts with us. If we do well, we will be honored; otherwise, we will be rebuked or even judged. I pray and hope that when the day comes we will be pleased in His sight.

Secondly, Christians can make offerings which is a privilege given by God; therefore, offerings are a kind of expression of thanksgivings. Actually I do not agree to non-Christians making offerings before they know the true meaning of offerings. It is because offering is related to the Kingdom of God. Anyone who doesn’t belong to the Kingdom, his offering is meaningless. I remember, there was once, a man past by our church sanctuary. He found that our front triangle door is beautiful; and he told me that he would like to make an offering to pay the expenses of the door. Only under one condition: put his name somewhere on the door to remember him. Our Consistory declined. Why? It is our policy that we never mention anyone’s name about his/her offerings because offering is a privilege of Christians to God alone. 

Offering is a privilege that God gives to Christians to get involved in God’s business. God’s household – His church needs people to get involved in doing ministries; His Kingdom needs His people to participate in advancing the territory and winning the lost. Christians need to put their time, talents, and treasures in advancing God’s Kingdom. It is our honor and glory. Christ’s invitation is more honorable than the invitation of the President of the USA to get involved in any project.

Thirdly, Offering is an invitation of Jesus Christ to Christians to make an eternal investment. In other word, it is our Lord who allows us to make our personal deposits into our personal eternal bank accounts. I know that in our society we have many bankers and experts who know a lot of information how to do good investments. If we ask, they will provide many opportunities for us to choose from.

Likewise, our Lord invites us to do the best investment into His eternal bank. He will open a personal account for us. This is what He says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 21, 22.)  Only those who do not believe the eternal life will never make offerings for they do not believe something which has eternal value and meaning. 

But anyone who believes in Jesus Christ believes His invitation and eternal promise also. And he will cheerfully participate in the great eternal investment.

St. Paul teaches us: It is because of Jesus Christ we receive the salvation which is as a firm eternal foundation for our eternal life. “But each one should be careful how he builds … If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light.” (1 Cor. 3: 10 – 15)

Wise persons will make right choice and always put the best material to build up his eternal building in heaven. Namely, he will send the best – even his own entire earthly life to do the best investment in heaven in order to gain the imperishable honor. We have seen so many great Christians who did that. How about you?