Daily Bible Devotion - Serving God with Our Offerings (Part 3)

22. July 2026

Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi

Theme: Serving God with your Time, Tithes and Offering

Serving God with Our Offerings (Part 3 - Conclusion)

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Hello, dear friends.

Welcome to the final part of our devotion on Serving God with Our Offerings. Over the past two days, we have learnt that offerings are much more than money. We have also seen that God is interested not only in what we give but also in the heart and motive behind our giving.

Today, let us conclude by looking at who we should give to and why our offerings continue to play such an important role in the advancement of God's Kingdom.

Before you continue, I encourage you to pray and read 1 Kings 17:8–16, Galatians 6:6–10, Philippians 4:15–19, 1 Timothy 5:8, Hebrews 13:16, and James 1:27.

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Who Should We Give Our Offerings To?

Beloved, the first person we give to is God.

Whenever we bring our tithes and offerings into the house of God, we are ultimately giving them to Him.

Sometimes people say, "I am giving to the church."

Yes, practically the offering is received by the church, but spiritually it is presented to God.

The church simply becomes the channel through which God's work is carried out.

Our offerings help maintain the house of God.

They help pay administrative expenses.

They help pay electricity and utility bills.

They help purchase musical instruments, chairs, sound equipment and materials for ministry.

They help support evangelism, discipleship and missions.

Without faithful offerings, many of these ministries would struggle to continue.

Today, we no longer bring goats, sheep or bulls before the Lord as they did in the Old Testament. Christ has already become our perfect sacrifice. Now, our financial offerings become part of how we worship God and participate in advancing His Kingdom on earth.

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Honouring Our Parents and Family

Brothers and sisters, another group of people we should never neglect is our parents and our family.

God expects us to care for those He has placed in our lives.

The Apostle Paul writes:

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

— 1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)

When God blesses us financially, we should also become a blessing to our parents, our family members and those within our own household.

Sometimes an offering is not given in church.

Sometimes your offering is helping your ageing parents.

Sometimes it is supporting a sibling in need.

Sometimes it is paying school fees for a relative who cannot afford them.

These too are expressions of God's love.

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Giving to Those Who Labour Spiritually

Dear friends, the Bible also teaches us that we should honour those who labour in preaching and teaching God's Word.

Unfortunately, in our generation many people criticise every man or woman of God. Some assume that every pastor is after people's money.

Sadly, because of the actions of a few, many genuine servants of God are judged unfairly.

But we must always build our convictions on Scripture and not on public opinion.

Paul writes:

"Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches."

— Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)

Again he says:

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine."

— 1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)

Giving to your pastor is not an obligation forced upon believers.

It is an opportunity to honour the servant God has placed over your life.

That honour may be shown through finances.

Through your time.

Through your encouragement.

Through acts of kindness.

Through practical support.

It is simply another expression of gratitude for spiritual investment.

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The Widow of Zarephath

There is a remarkable story in 1 Kings 17 that teaches us an important lesson.

After the brook dried up and the ravens stopped feeding Elijah, God sent His prophet to a widow in Zarephath.

Humanly speaking, this did not make sense.

Why send a prophet to a poor widow?

She herself was preparing what she believed would be her last meal before she and her son died.

Yet Elijah said to her:

"Do not fear... but make me a small cake from it first."

— 1 Kings 17:13 (NKJV)

If this happened in today's world, many people would immediately criticise Elijah.

Some would accuse him of exploiting a poor widow.

Others would question his motives.

But they would miss what God was actually doing.

Beloved, Elijah was not looking for an opportunity to take from the widow.

God was looking for an opportunity to bless her household.

Her offering became the doorway through which God performed a miracle.

The flour never ran out.

The oil never failed.

Her entire household was sustained throughout the famine.

That story has always reminded me of something very important.

Whenever God asks us to give, He is never trying to impoverish us.

He is inviting us to trust Him.

Very often, behind every act of obedience is an opportunity for God to reveal His faithfulness.

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Giving to Fellow Believers and the Poor

Our offerings should not stop at the church.

The Bible also encourages us to care for fellow believers and for those who are in need.

Paul writes:

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

— Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)

We should never become so focused on church giving that we forget the people around us.

Sometimes your offering may be buying groceries for a struggling family.

Sometimes it may be paying someone's rent.

Sometimes it may be helping a student with school fees.

Sometimes it may simply be blessing another believer who is going through a difficult season.

James reminds us that pure religion includes caring for those who are vulnerable.

God delights when His children become channels of His generosity.

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Can God Trust Us With His Resources?

Dear friends, let me finish by asking a few honest questions.

Can God trust us with our resources?

Can God trust us with our finances?

Can He trust us with our time?

Can He trust us with what He has placed in our hands?

People love to receive prophetic words.

People love to pray.

People love to receive miracles.

But when the subject of giving comes up, many people suddenly become uncomfortable.

I believe one of the enemy's greatest strategies is to keep believers in financial fear so they never experience the joy of generous living.

Over the years, I have witnessed many testimonies.

I remember Aliyah sharing how, after faithfully returning his tithe, God opened unexpected doors and blessed him.

I also remember Pauline's testimony. She struggled with giving her tithe, but after choosing to obey God, she experienced His faithfulness in a remarkable way.

There are countless believers who can testify that as they honoured God with what He had entrusted to them, He provided in ways they never imagined.

No, we do not give because we are trying to buy God's favour.

Neither do we give because we want to manipulate Him into blessing us.

We give because we love Him.

We give because He first gave to us.

We give because generosity is part of the character of God.

Finally, I want to leave you with one personal challenge.

As a pastor, I often ask myself this question:

Can I trust God enough to take care of me if one day He calls me to give all my time to His work?

That question requires faith.

In the same way, every believer must ask:

Can I trust God with my resources?

Can I trust Him enough to honour Him with my time, my tithe and my offerings?

May our answer always be yes.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us the true meaning of offerings. Deliver us from fear, selfishness and wrong motives. Help us to become cheerful and faithful givers who honour You with our lives, our time, our talents and our resources. Teach us to support Your work, care for our families, honour those who labour in the Gospel, bless fellow believers and remember the poor. Above all, help us to trust You completely, knowing that You are our Provider. May our offerings always glorify Your name and advance Your Kingdom. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

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Closing Encouragement

If this devotion has blessed you, I encourage you to share it with someone else. Perhaps through your simple act of sharing, another person will grow in their understanding of biblical giving and learn to trust God more deeply.

Thank you for joining me throughout this series on Serving God with Our Time, Tithes, and Offerings. My prayer is that these devotions will not only increase your knowledge but also transform the way you live for Christ every day.

Shalom,

Rev. Joseph Antwi