Have you ever felt obligated to offer more than you can give because you believe that the larger the offering, the greater the blessing you would receive? If so, you may have been expecting too much from something that wasn't yours in the first place. Nevertheless, giving great offerings—whether monetary, food, things, or even your service—can never be worthless, as long as it is your heart's desire. It is as valuable as the poorest of the poor giving their last penny to someone in need. It is your willingness, sincerity, and dedication that should motivate you to be generous. However, it is not true generosity if we expect something in return, such as fame, recognition, favor, or respect—that is manipulation. Many of us may be unaware that we are being manipulative simply because we seek to be glorified, fueled by pride, and blinded by the reality that we cannot achieve greatness without others, much less acquire what we possess alone.

A great example of absolute generosity, at least ever written, is the widow's offering in the Temple of Jerusalem, found in the Gospel of Mark 12:41-44, which says, "Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.'" The widow humbled herself, knowing that whatever little she had, she received it through the providence of God. Her story teaches us what God desires from us, not what we want God to see in us. Her appearance was probably pitiful, perhaps wearing simple or worn-out clothing, but her heart was full of generosity and devotion. The goal is to give what we can, not to show off, because nothing in this world would impress our Most Loving God except our faith in Him. Faith that is motivated by the grace He bestows upon us so that we, too, may become like Jesus Christ.

Offering should be driven by your compassion toward others, not by a desire to be recognized, honored, or respected. We don't owe the world because of our contributions, as we couldn’t have accomplished them without others. Yes, you worked hard and deserve to be rewarded for your labors, but you can't generate income from your business without employees and customers. You can't get paid for completed tasks without your clients. My point is that while you can do many things by yourself, you can't do everything alone. Therefore, offering should express your gratitude by humbling yourself before the presence of God, who is the source of everything we possess. Take it as a test: God gave us the grace to be generous—not only with material things but also emotionally and spiritually. Let us strive to make the most of that grace according to what He expects from us, not what we expect from others.

Sharing is loving, and loving is sharing.

Matthias Stom The Sacrifice of Abraham ca. 1630

God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Though heartbroken, Abraham obeyed and took Isaac to the mountain. As Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac, an angel stopped him, saying God had seen his faith. A ram appeared, and Abraham offered it instead. God then blessed Abraham, promising to multiply his descendants and make them a blessing to all nations.