What Is An Offering?
An offering is anything we give to God beyond our tithe. We are totally free to decide how much to give. The Bible says, "For with the same measure that ye mete [measure] withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).

The size of our offering determines the measure, or rate, God uses to bless us.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(2 Cor. 9:7)

The apostle Paul, in this verse, said the giver's heart regulates the size of his offering. Each Christian must decide for himself how much to give.

Remember, your tithe opens the windows of heaven and your offering establishes the measure God will use to give back to you through those open windows.

How Do I Give a Proper Offering?
The Bible says specifically how to give offerings that please God. Here's how:

• Give willingly. God doesn't accept every offering Christians give. He cares less about the size of your gift than the condition of your heart. According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, He loves a willing, cheerful heart.
  
• Give your offering to accomplish God's purpose. Some Christians give with selfish motives. It is easy to deceive yourself. However, a proper offering always should be aimed at fulfilling God's objectives, not yours.
  
• Your offering establishes your harvest. Giving to God creates a double blessing: you fund His purpose and plant seed for your harvest. And the law of harvest always rewards the sower.

He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(2 Cor. 9:6)

Principles of Giving
To achieve the abundance God desires for you, faithfully apply these principles:

1. Give in the name of Jesus.
   
2. Pray over your gift, consecrating it to God's service.
   
3. Finally, release your gift so God can unleash His powerful principles of abundant supply back to you.

Give consistently, in hard times and good. At times you may even need to give as the poor widow did who, in desperation, threw in her last two mites (See Mark 12:41-44).

God looks at your heart, not the dollar amount of your gift. He determines your gift's size by what you have left. Even a penny given out of your need is more valuable than a million dollars from someone with great abundance!

Source: God's Debt Free Guarantee by John Avanzini.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers