Worship by Offering
Matthew 2:1-2, 11 (NIV)
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
… On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
What Does Worship Really Look Like?
When you hear the word worship, what comes to mind?
Music? A Sunday service? A few emotional moments before the sermon?
Here’s a deeper question:
What if worship was never meant to stay in the building?
What if it’s meant to follow us into how we live, how we love, and yes — how we handle our money?
Scripture paints worship as a whole life offered in devotion.
And when the Magi arrived at the home of Jesus, they didn’t just sing. They didn’t perform a ritual.
They opened their treasures.
Why Would the Magi Travel So Far?
These weren’t local visitors — they were spiritual seekers from hundreds of kilometers away.
Their route from Babylon or Persia to Bethlehem stretched between 900 and 1,200 km — a journey of weeks or even months.
So ask yourself:
What kind of faith compels someone to travel that far, just to kneel before a child?
They weren’t chasing recognition. They weren’t following a trend.
They were pursuing truth — and the journey itself was worship.
By the time they arrived, they didn’t offer words.
They offered treasure.
Why Offer Treasure at All?
Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.
Each was costly. Each carried meaning.
If translated into modern value, their gifts could equal hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That’s extravagant. But here’s the key:
They gave not because they had to,
but because their hearts overflowed with honour.
So here’s the question worth asking:
What is your response when you recognize something — or someone — greater than yourself?
True worship always costs something.
Not always money, but always something valuable — pride, comfort, time, attention.
Because worship without offering isn’t worship at all.
It’s sentiment.
The First Offerings: Abel and Abram
Cain and Abel both brought offerings.
Abel’s was accepted because it was the first and finest — the best portion of what he had.
He didn’t wait to see what was left. He gave from the top.
And that set a tone for all who would follow.
Then there’s Abram.
After rescuing his nephew Lot, he meets Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram… Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
No one told Abram to give.
There was no law. No expectation.
He gave as a response — because God had already acted on his behalf.
That’s the heartbeat of worship:
We give, not to get God’s attention, but because He already gave us His.
Everyone Offers to Something
You don’t have to be religious to be a worshiper.
Every person on earth gives to something: success, approval, comfort, security, relationships.
So the real question isn’t “Do I give?”
It’s “Who or what do I give to?”
If you want to know what you worship,
look at what gets your best — your time, your thoughts, your money.
Consider this:
- A fan reportedly spent $100,000 attending 22 Taylor Swift concerts.
- Babe Ruth’s baseball jersey sold for $24 million.
- Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey? $10 million.
- The most expensive sports ticket ever? $1.17 million for a single seat at the 2016 World Series.
We all give — sometimes even sacrifice — for what captures our affection.
So when Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,”
He’s not giving financial advice.
He’s giving a map of the soul.
Where Is Your Treasure Leading You?
Matthew 6:19-21 (MSG)
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust… Stockpile treasure in heaven… The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”
What would happen if we used our money as a spiritual compass — a way to locate our hearts?
Would it point toward faith, or fear? Gratitude, or greed?
That’s why I tithe.
Not as a tax or transaction, but as a practice of alignment.
When so many things compete for my affection, giving becomes my way of saying,
“My heart belongs here.”
When Worship Looks Like Two Coins
Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
“Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins… Jesus said, ‘This poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.’”
Her offering was small.
But her trust was huge.
Maybe that’s the deeper question:
What does real generosity look like when you don’t have much to give?
The widow didn’t give from abundance — she gave from belief.
And Jesus noticed.
Because worship isn’t measured by amount.
It’s measured by trust.
So What About Money and the Church?
Let’s be honest — this is where people hesitate.
We’ve all heard stories of misuse or greed.
So it’s fair to ask:
“Why does the church talk about money at all?”
Because Jesus did.
In fact, He spoke about money more than almost any other topic — not because He wanted it,
but because He knew it reveals the heart.
Healthy churches don’t pressure people to give; they invite people to worship through giving.
The focus isn’t on what the church gets, but on who the giver becomes.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Where does my offering go?” — that’s a good question to ask.
Transparency and accountability matter.
And when giving is done with integrity, it builds trust — not suspicion.
How to Align Money and Faith (3 Simple Steps)
Want to bring your financial life into alignment with your faith? Start small.
- Audit your affection — Look at your last month’s spending and ask: What story is my money telling about what I value most?
- Give intentionally — Don’t give out of guilt. Give as gratitude. Pick one thing — your church, a person in need, a cause that reflects God’s heart — and start there.
- Hold it loosely — Every time you give, remind yourself: This isn’t mine to keep; it’s mine to steward.
Quick Questions People Ask About Money and Faith
Q: Is giving required for God to accept me?
A: No. God’s grace comes first. Giving is simply a response to that grace.
Q: What if I can’t afford to give much?
A: Start small and stay faithful. It’s never about the amount — it’s about the trust it represents.
Q: Why does the church ask for money?
A: Because giving funds the mission — caring for people, serving communities, creating spaces for others to encounter God. But ultimately, giving is an invitation to worship, not an obligation to pay.
Worship That Costs Something
Worship begins in the heart,
but it always travels through the hands.
The Magi traveled far.
Abel gave first.
Abram gave back.
The widow gave all.
Each gave differently — but all were saying the same thing:
“You are worth it.”
So, what journey are you willing to take?
What treasure are you willing to open?
What act of worship are you ready to live out —
when no one’s watching but God?
