What Can We Offer to God?

Walk into almost any church on a Sunday, and you’ll hear language about what we "give to God." We bring Him our praise, our offerings, our thanks. We lift up our hands, sing our songs, and recite our prayers. And often, it sounds like we’re giving something God lacks as if worship is our way of paying Him back.

But that raises a question. If God has no needs, what do we really give Him?

The tension is real. Acts 17:25 says that God is “not served by human hands, as though he needed anything.” He’s the Giver of all things, not the receiver. And yet, Scripture also says, “Offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15), and “Bring an offering” (Psalm 96:8). So which is it? Do we come to church to give or to receive?

The answer is yes. But not in the way we often think.

The Myth of Self-Sufficient Worship

Some pastors, perhaps reacting to consumeristic tendencies, scold their congregations: “You’re not here to get something from God you’re here to give!” While the concern may be valid (many do show up seeking personal benefit over true worship), the solution isn’t to pit giving against receiving.

In fact, Scripture shows that worship begins with receiving. Real worship starts when we are satisfied in God when we come hungry, needy, expectant, and thirsty for more of Him.

That’s not selfishness. That’s worship.

Psalm 63 captures this heart perfectly:

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night.” (Psalm 63:5–6)

David praises after being satisfied. The praise is the overflow of the joy.

But Doesn’t the Bible Say to Give?

Absolutely. Jeff, a podcast listener, raised the same concern. He pointed to Scriptures like:

• “Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15)

• “Bring an offering” (Psalm 96:8)

• “Give thanks to him” (Psalm 100:4)

These verses clearly talk about giving to God. But here’s the key: biblical “giving” is not about enriching God, but exalting Him. It’s not us bringing something He lacks it’s us reflecting back to Him what He already gave.

So how do we make sense of this giving?

Let’s look at five truths that can help.

1. ‘Give’ Often Means ‘Ascribe’

In many English Bible translations, we read, “Give glory to God.” But in Hebrew, the word often means ascribe not transfer. We’re not handing God something He didn’t have; we’re acknowledging what is already true of Him.

Psalm 68:34 says, “Ascribe power to God.” That’s a declaration, not a donation.

2. We’re Never the Source

1 Chronicles 29:14 shows David marveling at the generosity of Israel: “For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.” He knows every offering, every gift, even the willingness to give, came from God.

We give, yes but only what we’ve already received.

3. God Gets the Glory When We Get the Joy

As C.S. Lewis famously wrote in Reflections on the Psalms, praise isn’t a mere compliment it’s the consummation of our joy. We don’t truly enjoy something until we’ve expressed it.

“The delight is incomplete till it is expressed… Praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment.”

When we say, “God is glorious!”, we’re not boosting His ego. We’re tasting His glory and completing our joy in Him.

4. Even Our ‘Giving’ Is Receiving

Romans 11:35–36 asks, “Who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things.”

Even our ability to worship, to give, to sacrifice it all comes from God. We never approach the throne as benefactors. We come as recipients, joyful to return what was never ours to begin with.

5. True Worship Is Getting More of God

The heartbeat of worship is hunger longing to be filled with more of God. This is not consumerism; it’s communion. And when that longing is met, praise overflows.

So yes, we give God praise. We give Him thanks. We give Him our hearts. But not because He needs. Because we need. And when we give, we’re really just receiving receiving joy, life, purpose, and the chance to participate in glorifying the One who gave it all.

What Do We Give, Then?

We give to God:

• Our praise, which completes our joy in Him.

• Our thanks, which acknowledges His grace.

• Our offerings, which reflect His provision.

• Our hearts, which He already redeemed.

• Our lives, which He sustains moment by moment.

But in every case, the giving isn’t enriching God it’s exalting Him. And that kind of giving is itself a gift.

So don’t be afraid to come to worship needy. Come empty. Come hungry. Come ready to receive from the only One who gives without measure. And when you’ve received, let the praise rise.

Because that is worship.

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