by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

We are going through a season of correction of doctrinal errors, principal amongst these being on the subject of giving where the body of Christ has been erroneously brought back under the law, instead of operating under the law of grace. The principle of giving for the believer in Christ was amazingly articulated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (TPT)—Beloved ones, we must tell you about the grace God poured out upon the churches of Macedonia. For even during a season of severe difficulty, tremendous suffering, and extreme poverty, their super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity. For I can verify that they spontaneously gave, not only according to their means but far beyond what they could afford. They actually begged us for the privilege of sharing in this ministry of giving to God’s holy people who are living in poverty. They exceeded our expectations by first dedicating themselves fully to the Lord and then to us, according to God’s pleasure.

They clearly understood that neither they nor the things they had belonged to them but to Him who died for them! They surrendered all independent of circumstances and gave as described in the above text to a divinely approved cause—the sustenance of saints in distress. Therein they teach the principles of serving God acceptably in the matter of giving.

Our next seven admonitions will focus on this matter of serving God as per Kingdom’s pleasure. Please patiently follow with me through this abridged and powerful exposition by Bro. Charles Spurgeon. The recurrent additional text to the one above is taken from Hebrews 12:28-29—Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot he moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.

As a congregation you have of late been diligently engaged in the service of God by endeavoring to provide a home for fatherless children. I have been astonished and delighted at the liberality which has been shown by all sorts of persons in this good and gracious work. I felt sometimes like the king of old, who said, “Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?” I am sure you have well earned all the commendation that your fellow Christians can give to you; for the work has been so well and so heartily done that we all rejoice together. But, now that it is all over, careful thoughts arise in my mind. It is but a small thing that you and I should he accepted of one another; the great matter is that we should be accepted of the Lord. I, who am but as the doorkeeper of my Master’s house, not only approve, but abundantly commend my fellow servants; but what of that? The great point is that the King himself should say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We do but see the fair externals of things, but the great Father of spirits searches the hearts and tries the reins of the children of men, and judges after a higher standard. Therefore, with holy anxiety have I looked at this text and turned it over, hoping that the Holy Spirit may cause each one who has engaged in our benevolent work to examine himself, and to judge his part in this labour of love, that he may amend any fault which may hinder his work from being a sacrifice of sweet savour unto the Most High. What if we should bring our sacrifice, and the Lord should have no respect thereunto! That would be a repetition of the sad story of Cain, of whom it is written, “Unto Cain and to his offering the Lord had not respect.” Then, indeed, would our countenances be fallen; but I trust it would be with repentance rather than rebellion. If unaccepted of the Lord we would weep bitterly, and ask him that the sin-offering which lieth at the door might be available for us. The chief thing is that our labour should be acceptable unto God, and upon that subject I shall speak this morning, as the Spirit of God shall enable me.

Many things are absolutely needful for the acceptance of any service rendered unto God: of these some are not stated in the text, but they are so important that I commence with mentioning them. The first is that the person who attempts to serve God should himself be accepted. The offerer must himself be accepted in the Beloved, or his offering will be tainted by his condition and be inevitably unacceptable. The uncleanness of the person pollutes his sacrifice. He that hath an impenitent heart, an unrenewed will, a disobedient mind, an unholy life, may perform outward acts of devotion, but the Lord saith, to such— “Who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations unto me.” The heart itself must be given to God; for the offering which comes from a heartless worshipper is a mere pretence of homage to the Most High. See well to that, my dear hearers. God says, “My son, give me thy heart:” give whatsoever you please afterwards, but the heart must lead the way— that is essential. Let a traitor in actual rebellion bring tribute to a king; it will be but a mockery; he must first submit himself unto his prince, and then he may come with his token of loyalty.

The next essential is that, the act being performed by a person accepted, it should be distinctly done as unto God. Our text speaks of serving [in our giving] God (words in bracket mine, for emphasis). Alas, much is done which is in itself externally commendable, but it is not acceptable to God, because it is not rendered unto him, and with a view to his glory. Some, like the Pharisees of old, give alms out of ostentation; they sound a trumpet before them that they may have praise of men. Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward, and a poor reward it is. Some are energetic in holy work out of emulation, that they may surpass others, and may have credit for superior ability and goodness. Like Jehu they cry, “Come, see my zeal for the Lord of hosts!” Now, inasmuch as in this they seek their own honour, and not the glory of God, they cannot be accepted of him. Better far the two mites dropped into the treasury unobserved of all but the great Master himself, than all the wealth that we could possibly bring if we made the offering with divided intent. If we would serve God we must forget self. There must be the distinct desire to obey and honour the Lord, and we must not act as men-pleasers, or as labouring for our own exaltation; otherwise the Lord will abhor our offering.

And we must take care that all this is done with faith in Christ Jesus; for it is a law of universal observation in the kingdom of heaven that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” “Though I give my body to be burned and have not charity,” saith Paul, “it profiteth me nothing;” and the same may be said concerning faith. He who does not believe in God, and yet pretends to be religious, is manifestly either a deceiver or deceived:  as the unbeliever is condemned already, his service can only be that of a condemned man, and how can it give pleasure to the Lord? We must bring our offering to Jesus, our great High Priest, and he must present it for us, for it can only be acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

These things being mentioned, I now confine myself to the text itself, which has in it a world of solemn, heart-searching thought with regard to the acceptable service of God.

Reflect on this and internalize the truth.