When we think of ‘worship,’ our minds often turn to music and songs that we sing together on Sunday mornings. Yet, there is much more to worship than the music: two of the most important elements of worship are in our prayers and in our giving.
When we give back to God, we are expressing our trust in him and in his provision. When we pray over our offerings to God, we are asking him to bless that which we give and use it for his purposes. So how should we pray over our tithes and offerings? Below is one example.
Father God,
You are the giver of all good things, and your Word makes clear that every good and perfect gift comes from you. We ask that you accept these gifts and use them to your glory. May these gifts bring shelter to the homeless, comfort to the sick, rest to the weary, and hope to the hopeless. Just as you multiplied the offering of fish and the loaves that were freely given for others, we pray that you would multiply these, our offerings to you, and accomplish with them more than we could ask or imagine.
We give freely and not from compulsion, for there is nothing we could give that matches your glory and majesty, and the great gift of your son Jesus and of the Holy Spirit which guides us daily. All we have is yours, Father, and we ask that you would use us and all we have as you will. Amen.
In every Christian tradition, there is generally a time in the service for giving an offering. However, in a digital world, this can look very different for each giver. We may give by putting money in when we “pass the plate,” we may drop offerings in a collection box, or we may give online as most worshippers currently do. How we give and how much we give is between ourselves and God.
For one thing, we come before God with the perspective that everything that we have belongs to him to begin with. Throughout the centuries, Christians have given generously and sacrificially for the cause of the gospel. Christian giving has funded schools, charities, and hospitals. Christians have given time and treasure to rebuild cities after floods and fires. Christians have given faithfully to their local churches, to missionaries, to neighbors in need, and Christians have given consistently in ways that others will never know. Following the lead of our Savior, who gave all on our behalf, Christians are and always have been a giving people.
We pray for tithes and offerings because, as believers, we should pray that God will be at work in all we do. Our financial offerings and our prayers go hand-in-hand, as our prayers and praises are in themselves an offering to God.
Just as Jesus prayed over the loaves and fishes which were then multiplied, we pray that God will multiply our offerings to him and multiply the depth and amount of blessing of our giving as a result.
We also pray for humility as we give. As seen in the verses below, our giving is not some kind of “badge of honor” based on the amount we give, but rather a practice in humility between ourselves and God.
There are many verses that deal with our giving back to God, and it is my prayer that these verses will be an encouragement as you give.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)
“You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16)
For every Christian, a pattern of giving eventually becomes second nature. We give through our finances, but also through our compassion for others and our desire to look for needs we can fill. Most will never know the amount of themselves that each Christian has given, and that is to the glory of the God who has given so much to us.
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