God tests the heart of your sacrifice and giving.

I humbly want to speak to you today about a controversial subject that has led to too much contention, division, and hurt in the church: financial giving. I cannot convince you, and I will not compel you to do anything, for this is an issue of the heart. It is a private matter between you and God.

From the beginning of Scripture, giving has never been treated as a mechanical act. It has always been measured, weighed, and examined by God Himself. The first recorded act of worship through sacrifice already shows this sobering truth.

1. Cain & Abel — The First Measured Offering

“And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…” Genesis 4:3–7

God did not merely observe. He regarded one and did not regard the other. The offering exposed the worshipper.

Hebrews clarifies why:  

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…”Hebrews 11:4

The difference was not produce versus animal. It was faith versus self-will. The Bible is clear that nothing But Faith pleases God. (Heb 11:6)

2. Abraham & Isaac — The Tested Sacrifice

“And it came to pass… that God did tempt (test) Abraham.” Genesis 22:1–12

Before Isaac was sacrificed, Abraham’s obedience was weighed. The sacrifice revealed trust. God tempted the Rich Young man in the same way.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ … Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:16–22

3. Nadab & Abihu — Unauthorized Worship

“They offered strange fire… which he commanded them not.” Leviticus 10:1–3

God judged their offering because it was self-invented worship. Sincerity did not override obedienced.

4. The Quality of Offerings — No Defects Allowed

“But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer…” Leviticus 22:20–22

God explicitly measured the condition of the sacrifice. Excellence mattered.

5. Saul — Partial Obedience Rejected

“To obey is better than sacrifice…” 1 Samuel 15:22–23

Saul tried to compensate disobedience with offerings. God exposed the deception. Sacrifice cannot mask rebellion.

6. David — Should cost you something

“Neither will I offer… that which doth cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24

True sacrifice is weighed by cost.

7 Philemon — Consent, Willingness, and Measured Goodness

“But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.” Philemon 14

Paul refuses to coerce generosity.

He could have commanded Philemon to receive Onesimus. Instead, he insists that the good must be voluntary, not forced. This aligns with:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity…” 2 Corinthians 9:7

God weighs compulsion differently than willingness. Even heaven respects consent.

8. “What You Give Is What You Receive” — The Law of Sowing and Reaping

There is deep biblical grounding here.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

“Give, and it shall be given unto you…” Luke 6:38

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth… The liberal soul shall be made fat.” Proverbs 11:24–25

“He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly…”
People argue about tithing. Tithing is simply the lowest standard to get you to give. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Titing is simply the lowest standard to get you learn to give, else you will spend all only on you own needs, and give where you are seen to be the giver.

The Love of Money

Wesley noted that in the old days of Methodism, the people were poor. But, he observed, in the 20, 30, or 40 years since they joined the society, many Methodists had become 20, 30, or even 100 times richer than they were at first. With this increase in wealth had come a decrease in godliness. It seemed to him the more money the Methodists had, the less they loved the Lord.

Wesley noted several instances of the decline of godliness among the Methodists. The first was a lessening of their love for God, shown by a lack of interest in sanctification. He told them they no longer had “the same vehement desire as you formerly had of ‘going on to perfection.’ ” A second instance was pride. Wesley warned his followers that increasing wealth had made them arrogant. They had become more confident of their own opinions and less willing to hear reproof: “You are not so teachable as you were, …; you have a much better opinion of your own judgment and are more attached to your own will.” (from the sermon Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity)