“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
What is the place of giving in worship? That’s a question Kyle and I have been pondering lately. It’s also a question we’ve had a chance to discuss with several of you over the past few weeks. As you may know, during the COVID disruption, we put a stop to our practice of collecting each week’s offering publicly by passing the plates. Most of you took that change in stride by shifting your giving online or by mail or by making use of the collection box outside the church office. Indeed, it has been a joy to see your continued faithfulness in giving even without a weekly reminder in the service. And so up to now, we had not seen a reason to resume the weekly collection.
And yet, after further thought, it does seem we may have lost something by omitting the practice of regular giving in worship. Two things in particular come to mind. First, the regular reminder that giving is an act of worship is important. Giving, for the Christian, is not just a duty to be observed, it is also one of the ways we worship God (Prov 3:9; 2 Cor 8:5). By making giving part of our regular worship, we demonstrate to ourselves and declare to others that God has the priority place in our lives as owner of all things. Second, our giving can be an important example to our children. One of the young adults who grew up at Rockport made this point. He shared how the weekly act of giving had been a reminder to him growing up that God owns the whole of our lives and that he, as a professing Christian, should make regular giving a part of His life. That was not something I had given enough thought about, but it makes sense.
For these and other reasons, we will return to the regular practice of giving in worship beginning next Sunday. You may, of course, continue to give in any format you like. But let’s keep our giving focused as an aspect of worship!
May all we do be done with joy and thus be acceptable to Him!
Pastor Scott