How can we apply the principle of offering our best to God today? Setting the Scene in Leviticus 3:11 "The priest is to burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the LORD." (Leviticus 3:11) The choicest portions of the fellowship offering—the rich fat and vital organs—were placed on the fire. From the start, God asked for the best, not the leftovers. The Heart Behind Best Offerings • God deserves the first and finest because He is first and finest (Proverbs 3:9–10). • Offerings reveal the heart more than the hand. Cain and Abel’s story (Genesis 4:3-5) shows that quality and motive matter. • Malachi 1:13-14 warns against giving blemished gifts: “For I am a great King… My name is awesome among the nations”. Seeing Christ’s Fulfillment and Our Response • The perfect sacrifice of Jesus satisfies the requirement for sin, but it also models wholehearted giving. • Hebrews 13:15: “Through Jesus… let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” • 1 Peter 2:5: we are “a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” We still bring offerings—now in every arena of life. Practical Expressions Today Time • Start the day with Scripture and prayer before schedules crowd in. • Guard the Lord’s Day for worship and rest, not mere catch-up. Talents • Serve where gifts meet needs—music, teaching, hospitality, administration. • Prepare with excellence: rehearse, study, practice, so ministry reflects God’s worth. Treasure • Give the first portion of income, not what is left over after bills (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). • Budget generosity—mission support, benevolence, local church. Work & Study • Colossians 3:17: “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Excellence at work or school is an offering. Relationships • Forgive quickly; love sacrificially; speak truth in love—costly choices that honor God. • Hospitality: open homes and schedules to encourage believers and reach the lost. Worship & Praise • Engage mind and heart in congregational singing; arrive prepared, not distracted. • Personal praise throughout the week—playlists, journals, spoken gratitude. Body & Lifestyle • Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” Pursue purity, health, and integrity as acts of worship. Guarding Against Halfheartedness • Regularly examine motives—am I giving to impress or to adore? • Fight drift by remembering the cross; costly grace fuels costly devotion. • Invite accountability—spouse, friend, small group—so offerings stay wholehearted. God’s Promises to Cheer Us On • “Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:10) • “For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name.” (Hebrews 6:10) • “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38) Closing Encouragement Giving God our best is not loss but gain. He supplied the offering in Christ, gives the strength to present it, and delights to bless the giver. Every arena of life can become the altar where the fragrance of our best rises to Him. |
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