Joel M Bradshaw

No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.–Deuteronomy 16

In the context here, the men were to gather at the three festivals and bring with them agricultural gifts from their fields and vines. These were intentional and required gatherings that were intended to be full of joy and unity in the presence of God.

If you were invited to a meal at someone’s house, you most likely would bring something with you. A bottle of wine. An appetizer to share. Bags of ice for coolers. The point is, you brought something. It would appear socially odd if you brought nothing. Better to have something and be told that you didn’t have to. Some of you are reading this and wondering what planet I’m from.

Maybe you or your family never practiced this principle. Fair enough. Maybe your side of the family hosted Christmas and your spouse’s side hosted Thanksgiving. You might have it figured out who is bringing what ahead of time. The host provides the meats and others bring sides, etc. Every adult or couple usually brought something. Ok, now we are on the same radar.

Why would I belabor this? Because if you would never come before the dinner host empty handed, would you feel comfortable to do so with God? In the Deuteronomy context, you would not. You recognized that God gave you a great harvest and you brought gifts in proportion to that. But in our context today? Is this a command that people are to bring money for the offering plate? Our worship today is based in some form on the worship in Moses’ day. And in Jesus’ day, they still brought tithes and gifts. These were seen as good things.

Now some of us may never come before God empty-handed, but empty-hearted? The attitudes we bring to worship are important, as well. Here’s a famous verse in 2 Corinthians 9. I added emphasis…

 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So what heart issues can you come ready to present before God? Here’s a big three.

1. The outward sinful or selfish attitudes you maintain.
2. The inward sin in your heart that you need to confess.
3. The destructive habits you from which you need to repent.

There may be times you gather before God in corporate worship empty-handed. But I challenge you to NEVER come before God empty-hearted. Worship is a time to connect with God, not a time to hide your heart.–JMB