How can we ensure our offerings are "willingly given" like in Ezra 8:28? Setting the Scene in Ezra 8:28 “Then I said to them, ‘You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.’” The Nature of a Willing Offering • It is freely chosen, not forced (Ezra 8:28; Exodus 25:2). • It flows from gratitude for redemption already accomplished (Deuteronomy 16:10). • It recognizes God’s holiness and our stewardship (“You are holy to the LORD”). Cultivating Willingness in Our Hearts • Remember grace daily: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). • Decide privately before giving: “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give” (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Practice regular thanksgiving—gratitude fuels generosity (Psalm 116:12-14). • Keep accounts short with God; confess covetousness quickly (Proverbs 28:13). • Set giving goals that stretch faith but remain joyful (Malachi 3:10). Guarding Against Compulsion • Resist public pressure or comparison (Matthew 6:3-4). • Reject manipulation—God wants cheerful givers, not coerced ones (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Maintain transparency; hidden motives breed hypocrisy (Acts 5:1-5). Practical Ways to Offer Willingly Today • Budget first for the Lord’s work; give off the top, not the leftovers (Proverbs 3:9). • Involve the whole family so generosity becomes a shared joy (Joshua 24:15). • Pair giving with prayerful intent—attach names, ministries, or needs to each gift (Philippians 4:17-18). • Celebrate God’s provision after giving; keep a journal of answered prayers and financial faithfulness (Psalm 103:2). Living in God’s Economy of Grace • “Give, and it will be given to you... For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). • The willing heart experiences divine sufficiency: “God is able to make all grace abound to you” (2 Corinthians 9:8). • Willing offerings echo eternity; they are “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). |
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