SEEK25 – Worship

Seek- Week 1 – Worship

Genesis 4:3-7

³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.

⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?

⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

What is SEEK?

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

The Big Give

The Big Serve

Genesis 4:3-7

³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.

⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

Timeline of Giving as an Act of Worship in the Bible

1. Genesis 4:3-4 – The Offerings of Cain and Abel
2. Genesis 14:18-20 – Abram’s Tithe to Melchizedek
   • After Abram’s victory in battle, he gives a tenth (a tithe) of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. This is an early example of giving a portion to God in recognition of His provision and blessing.
   • “And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (CSB)
3. Genesis 28:20-22 – Jacob’s Vow to Tithe
   • Jacob, after his vision of the ladder to heaven, vows to give God a tenth of everything he receives if God blesses and protects him. This shows an early understanding of giving as a response to God’s faithfulness.
   • “And this stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.” (CSB)
4. Exodus 25:1-2, 35:4-29 – Offerings for the Tabernacle
   • God commands the Israelites to bring offerings to build the Tabernacle. The people give generously from their possessions, demonstrating worship through giving to support God’s dwelling place among them.
   • “Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze.” (Exodus 35:5, CSB)
5. Leviticus 27:30 – The Law of Tithes
   • Under the Mosaic Law, God commands the Israelites to give a tenth (tithe) of their produce and livestock to support the Levites, priests, and the work of the Tabernacle. This establishes giving as a regular, institutionalized form of worship.
   • “Every tenth of the land’s produce, grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” (CSB)
6. Numbers 18:21-24 – Tithes for the Levites
   • The Levites, who serve in the Tabernacle, are to receive the tithes from the Israelites as their inheritance. This reinforces the principle of supporting God’s work through giving.
   • “Look, I have given the Levites every tenth in Israel as an inheritance, in return for the work they do—the work of the tent of meeting.” (Numbers 18:21, CSB)
7. Deuteronomy 14:22-29 – Tithing and Giving to the Needy
   • God commands the Israelites to tithe annually and every third year to set aside a special tithe for the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, emphasizing both worship and justice.
   • “At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and store it within your city gates.” (Deuteronomy 14:28, CSB)
8. 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 – David’s Offerings for the Temple
   • King David, in preparing for the building of the Temple, gives generously from his own wealth and inspires the leaders and people of Israel to give willingly, demonstrating giving as a joyful act of worship.
   • “Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord wholeheartedly.” (1 Chronicles 29:9, CSB)
9. Nehemiah 10:35-39 – Commitment to Tithing and Offerings Restored
   • After the exile, the Israelites renew their covenant to God by committing to bring their tithes and offerings to the Temple, reflecting a revival of worship through giving.
   • “We will bring the firstfruits of our land and of every fruit tree to the Lord’s house year by year.” (Nehemiah 10:35, CSB)
10. Malachi 3:8-10 – Call to Faithful Tithing
    • The prophet Malachi calls the Israelites to return to God by bringing their tithes and offerings, promising that God will bless them if they give faithfully.
    • “Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way, says the Lord of Armies. See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” (Malachi 3:10, CSB)
11. Matthew 6:1-4 – Jesus on Giving in Secret
    • Jesus teaches that giving should be done in humility and sincerity, not for public recognition. This aligns giving with the heart of worship rather than a public display.
    • “But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4, CSB)
12. Mark 12:41-44 – The Widow’s Offering
    • Jesus commends a poor widow who gives two small coins, noting that she gave out of her poverty and with a heart of worship, unlike those who gave out of their surplus.
    • “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” (Mark 12:43, CSB)
13. Acts 2:44-45 – The Early Church’s Generosity
    • In the early church, believers sold their possessions and goods to distribute to anyone who had need, demonstrating their devotion to God and each other through sacrificial giving.
    • “They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (Acts 2:45, CSB)
14. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – The Macedonian Churches’ Generosity
    • Paul commends the churches in Macedonia for giving generously even in their poverty. Their giving is described as an act of grace and worship, done with overflowing joy.
    • “They gave according to their ability and beyond their ability, of their own accord.” (2 Corinthians 8:3, CSB)
15. Philippians 4:15-19 – The Philippians’ Support for Paul
    • Paul acknowledges the Philippians for their financial support of his ministry, noting that their gifts are “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God,” which aligns their giving with worship.
    • “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, CSB)

Genesis 4:3-5

³ In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.

⁴ And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,

⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

“Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.” 

“Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions.”

Psalm 24:1

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord.

Exodus 23:19

Bring the best of the firstfruits of your land to the house of the Lord your God.

Matthew 6:19-21

¹⁹ “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:22-24

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Colossians 3:2

² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Matthew 6:25-32

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?

²⁶ Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?

²⁷ Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?

²⁸ And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread.

²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.

³⁰ If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?

³¹ So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

1. To seek FIRST the Kingdom of God.

2. To seek FIRST His righteousness.

John 14:15

¹⁵ If you love me, you will keep my commands.

Genesis 4:5-6

⁵ but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.

⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?

Genesis 4:7

⁷ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

⁶ The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

⁷ Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

WHAT IS GOD ASKING OF ME?