Topical Bible: Love offerings

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Topical Encyclopedia

Love offerings are voluntary gifts or contributions given by individuals or congregations, often as an expression of love, gratitude, or support for a particular person, ministry, or cause. Unlike tithes, which are typically a set percentage of one's income given regularly to the church, love offerings are spontaneous and not bound by a specific amount or frequency. They are often collected to meet a specific need or to bless someone in a special way.

Biblical Basis

The concept of love offerings is rooted in the biblical principle of generosity and the call to support fellow believers and the work of the ministry. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently encouraged the early church to give generously. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 , Paul writes, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver." This verse highlights the voluntary and heartfelt nature of love offerings.

In the Old Testament, offerings were a significant part of worship and community life. While many offerings were prescribed by the Law, there were also freewill offerings, which were given out of personal devotion and gratitude. Exodus 35:29 states, "So all the men and women of Israel whose hearts were willing brought a freewill offering to the LORD for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do."

Purpose and Practice

Love offerings serve various purposes within the Christian community. They may be collected to support missionaries, assist those in financial distress, fund special church projects, or honor a visiting speaker or pastor. The practice of giving love offerings reflects the early church's commitment to communal support and care, as seen in Acts 2:44-45 : "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need."

The practice of love offerings is also a tangible expression of the command to love one another, as Jesus instructed in John 13:34-35 : "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."

Guidelines for Giving

While love offerings are voluntary, they are often guided by principles of stewardship and discernment. Believers are encouraged to give according to their means and as led by the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is on the attitude of the heart rather than the amount given. In 1 Timothy 6:18-19 , Paul advises, "Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Love offerings are a reflection of the believer's love for God and others, demonstrating the unity and generosity that characterize the body of Christ. They provide an opportunity for Christians to participate in God's work and to bless others as they have been blessed.

Topical Bible Verses

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Topicalbible.org

Library

'The Love of Thine Espousals'
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS 'THE LOVE OF THINE ESPOUSALS'. ... of Israel.5. And he sent young
men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the love of thine espousals.htm

Blemished Offerings
... obedience with which we follow those who have secured our confidence and evoked
our love, as contrasted ... 'I will not offer unto the Lord burnt offerings of that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/blemished offerings.htm

MJ Taylor. Acceptable Offerings.
... Acceptable Offerings. 1 Lord! ... 2 Willing hands, to lead the blind, Heal the wounded,
feed the poor; Love, embracing all our kind, Charity, with liberal store. ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/11 7s m j taylor.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... Are we keeping that holy flame alight? Are we feeding it with offerings of
self-sacrifice and love; offerings of a sweet-smelling savour to God? ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

1872 the Need of a Home Further West --Burning of the Marchmont ...
... "The citizens of Belleville have contributed freely towards replacing the Home,
and the Lord's dear children all over the land have sent their love-offerings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter iv 1872 the need.htm

Questions and Answers--Sorrowful Cases--Testimonies from those who ...
... "Since 1868, we have been receiving the love offerings of the Lord's almoners, and
under the direction of two auditors and a public accountant, a yearly ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter ix questions and answerssorrowful.htm

How Easy Our Saviour Has Made the Increase of Love.
... Tabernacle was received in good part, and had place amongst the holy offerings;
and the ... but also the little actions, smell of the virtue of holy love, and have ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how easy our.htm

Holy Offerings, Rich and Rare
... Adoration, ecstasy; All that childlike love can render. Of devotion true and tender; ...
Though our mortal weakness raise. Offerings of imperfect praise,. ...
/.../brotherhood and service 504 holy.htm

That Divine Love Makes the virtues Immeasurably More Agreeable to ...
... by a truly Christian soul, that is, by one which has the love of God. So God first
had respect to the good Abel, and then to his offerings, these taking their ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii that divine love.htm

How Human Actions are Without Worth when they are done Without ...
... to vice, which serves them for a motive; witness the fastings, offerings, and other ...
most sweetly and tranquilly subsist in the soul while sacred love lives and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how human actions.htm