Exodus 35:5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering.

Here we see two attributes of an offering to the Lord: firstly, we bring an offering from what we have and secondly, everyone who is willing brings an offering.

You cannot bring what you do not have. Some have advocated giving by credit card, from credit. That is not giving, that is foolishness. At best it is giving on behalf of your bank, whilst becoming a debtor. You cannot give what you do not have. (Side note – You can pledge to give something, even when you don’t have it yet. That is different.)

We bring from what we have willingly. Giving under compulsion is no giving at all. We do not give because we are forced to, we give because we want to, from our hearts (verse 21: everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering).

Giving like this, engages both our minds, our wills and our hearts. Our whole being is involved. In other words, giving like this is worship. It is a sweet smelling aroma to God, an offering like one of Abel’s, not Cain’s.

Bring an offering from the heart, from what you have.

And may the Lord bless you.