Psalm 35:27 *Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant*
BASIC BIBLICAL INJUNCTIONS* (B) *2#.GIVING AS WORSHIP*
One damage prosperity gospel has done to our understanding of giving is that it fails to teach giving as worship. It presents giving as transaction between man and God so the offering plate is seen as a money vending machine instead of an act of worship.
Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) says, *"Honor(worship) the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops*" (Emphasis mine).
When we give as a form of honor, our giving becomes an act of worship unto the Lord not something we do to get something. The whole life of a believer (giving inclusive) is designed by God for worship. As we worship in songs, praise and other things, our giving should also reflect worship because it is about him not us.
*Worship is superior to transaction*.
We are stewards and not owners. Everything in our possession is not really ours. We are managers and keepers of God's blessings and whenever he ask for it, we are to give it to him as a form of worship because He is the owner not us.
1 Corinthians 4:2 (MEV) *"Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful*".
Transactional presentation of giving is the reason many waged war against tithing not because tithing itself is bad but many preachers presented tithing in a legalistic way even to the point of threat. I am a proud tither but I do it out of love and worship not legalistically.
Abram, the first tither did it as a form of worship after defeating Kedorlaomer and other kings. He recognized God as the reason behind his victory. In honour and worship, he gave a tithe of all to Melchizedek, the high priest. That principle of honour in giving is timeless throughout the testaments.
Genesis 14:18-20 MEV
[18] Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High.
[19] And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth;
[20] and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
No one threatened Abraham to give. He understood the mightiness of God and he willingly used his substance to worship Him. Everywhere in scriptures where people gave, it was not on transaction basis. The same happened in the early church. They gave from a heart of worship not coercion.
Acts 2:44-45, 47 TPT
[44] All the believers were in fellowship as one body, *and they shared with one another whatever they had*.
[45] Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them.
[47] They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.
This is how it should be. I can't imagine Peter threatening hell and fury to collect money from people. The early church understood worship and they worshipped with their substance willingly.
Father, I receive the grace to give as an act of worship not transaction in the name of Jesus Christ.