2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
The Jewish people recognise that blessings come from obeying God’s law. God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed in the Garden of Eden. The Israelites didn’t lack anything when they left Egypt, and as they entered the Promised Land, it was a land flowing with milk and honey. God was pleased for them to build beautiful houses and for their grain and flocks multiply, on the condition that they didn’t become proud or forget that it was God who gave them the ability to prosper, because He honours His covenant with them. God also reminded us through Scripture that He would supply all our needs in accordance with His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Therefore, as believers, we can be confident we will never be in lack, because we are more valuable than the birds and lilies in the field.
People tend to be forgetful. When things go well, it becomes easy to drift into trusting mammon rather than God. Fearing we will lose it, we begin to rely on what we have earned and subtly allow money to become our master. The most practical way to stay humble and anchored in faith is to practise biblical financial principles. Tithing and giving freewill offerings are not only acts of worship, but declarations that God, not money, is our source.
Both opening passages promise God’s provision to His people through giving. We are given the opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is good through these two offerings. Both require faith and obedience because this is the battleground between trusting in God and trusting in mammon. Faith in God is shown by actions, not words. It is very liberating when we trust and place our confidence in God regarding money.
To live a life of faith, we must depend fully on God, and if our trust truly rests in Him, we will respond to His prompting to give freewill offerings as readily as we obey Him in every other area.
Reflection: When you give—through tithes or freewill offerings—is it truly an act of worship and obedience, or is it driven more by reluctance, fear, or obligation than by trust in God?
Sermon Series： Our Free Will Offering
在奉献中信靠神
哥林多后书 9:6–8 少种的少收，多种的多收”，这话是真的。各人要随本心所酌定的，不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人是神所喜爱的。神能将各样的恩惠多多地加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事，
玛拉基书 3:10 万军之耶和华说：“你们要将当纳的十分之一全然送入仓库，使我家有粮，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户倾福于你们，甚至无处可容。”
犹太人深知，祝福源自对神律法的顺服。神在伊甸园中赐给亚当和夏娃一切所需；以色列人出埃及时并不缺乏；进入应许之地时，那地是流奶与蜜之地。神喜悦他们建造美好的房屋，使五谷丰登、牛羊增多，但前提是他们不可心高气傲，也不可忘记赐他们得财富能力的是神自己，因为祂纪念并坚守与他们所立的约。
圣经也提醒我们，神必照祂在基督耶稣里荣耀的丰富供应我们一切所需。因此，作为信徒，我们可以确信自己不会缺乏，因为在神眼中，我们比天空的飞鸟、野地的百合更为宝贵。
然而，人往往容易忘记。当一切顺利时，我们很容易渐渐转而信靠玛门，而不是信靠神。因为害怕失去，我们开始依赖自己所赚取的一切，让金钱在不知不觉中成为主宰。要保持谦卑与信心，最实际的方式之一，就是实践圣经中的理财原则。十一奉献与甘心乐意的奉献，不仅是敬拜的行动，更是宣告：神才是我们的源头，而不是金钱。
以上两段经文都应许，神要借着我们的奉献供应祂的百姓。借着十一奉献与甘心乐意的奉献，我们得以“尝尝主恩的滋味，便知道祂是美善”。这两种奉献都需要信心与顺服，因为这是信靠神与信靠玛门之间的属灵争战。对神的信心，必须借着行动来表达，而不仅仅停留在言语上。当我们在金钱上选择信靠神，把信心交托给祂时，那是一种极大的释放与自由。
若要活出信心的生命，我们必须全然依靠神。当我们的信真正建立在祂身上，我们就会在奉献甘心乐意的礼物时，像在其他属灵领域顺服祂一样敏锐而积极地回应圣灵的感动。
反思问题：
当你奉献——无论是十一奉献还是甘心乐意的奉献——这是否真正出于敬拜与顺服的心？还是更多源自勉强、惧怕或责任感，而非对神的信靠呢？
讲章系列：甘心乐意的奉献