What Offerings Are Used For

A chapter in the Bible that is perfect for the reason why churches collect offerings and tithing comes from 2 Kings 12. I have never read a better example of what offerings are for and why we do them until I read and studied out this chapter in my heart. And for you to learn as I did, we must see what the chapter says by reading it. It reads, ¹“And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the Lord, let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found. But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house. And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house. (2 Kings 12:4-8) So we learn that offerings that are given to the house of the Lord or churches today is to go the workers therein, but more importantly, towards doing repair work of the church itself. And if repair work is not necessary in this instance, and there are no other needs, then offerings are not necessary. However, in our time, we also have missions and ministries, of which are also in need of our assistance. Therefore, we offer to them as well, not just to the Pastor, but also to the repair workers of the church also.

As we continue to read, we will learn where else and why our offerings and tithing money should go towards these things. Along with going towards the repair work of the church, and different ministries, the workers of the church also deserve a portion of the money. We learn this by reading further in this chapter, which reads, ¹“but Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the Lord. And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 12:9-11) ¹“But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lord. Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.” (2 Kings 12:14,15) So to the people who deserved a portion of the offerings, they also received them. Now, many people I’ve talked with have a very hard time with pastors making any money from their church, isn’t this biblical, according to what we just read? That the person who had oversight over of the church, along with the workers therein, should have a salary, based on these offerings as well. So let these unnecessary doubts and fear go to rest. We are to be generous in all our dealings, at church, and with others outside of our church. We give to the church and others as unto the Lord.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that more people will be desirous to not only pray and to do Your will, but to also give offerings and even tithing to their church. Even I have been a part of the group of believers that hasn’t given when I should have, and I am sorry. I haven’t been ready and didn’t have money on me when offerings have gone around, which I regret. I hadn’t gotten money out of the bank, in order to put it in a basket, which was very careless. And as it went from me to the next person, without me giving a thing, there has always been much guilt that has filled my heart. Oh, how guilty I have been for not giving at times when I know the church needed it most. Even though I have given many times before and still do give, I am sorry, Lord, for not being a willing giver when You have called me to be one. Even as a cheerful giver, this is what all believers ought to be doing, even as unto You, oh Lord. We don’t give forcefully, just because others are doing it, but because we love You and want to help the building up of Your church and Your kingdom. No regret of what we offered, for it is all out of love that we do such things. Thank You for giving me all that I have. I just give unto others and Your church, because You have given me so much. I love You more than money. May having money never be a deterrent of giving towards others who need things more than I do. Even when I do not have much money and am in a bind, help me to just trust in You and still give what I can anyways. I know that Your blessings will pour down from the heavens, if we would just trust in You. I believe in You Lord, and know that You will always provide for my needs. I love You. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

2 Kings 12

¹2 Kings 12 (KJV)
1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
4 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the Lord,
5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
8 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.
9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.
10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the Lord.
11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the Lord,
12 And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the Lord, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord:
14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lord.
15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.
16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord: it was the priests’.
17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
19 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.
21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.