After I got done being offended, okay maybe not offended, but rather, convicted, I had a "ah-ha" moment. How many times have I let myself be offended? Instead of losing myself for Christ, I was losing myself for myself.
I also got to thinking how sometimes we American Christians become offended by the offering. Maybe you have been. "How dare someone tells me that I need to give money." "They are asking for money again?" Or "you need to give above and beyond." Let's not get into the whys and why-nots, but let's take a look at 2 Corinthians 8:2. Paul is telling the Corinthian church about how the Macedonian churches gave. He says, "Out of the most severe trial, their overwhelming joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." No matter what trial you are going through, do not let the offering offend you, rather as the Macedonian churches did, I pray that with the joy of the Lord, you will see how you can be generous.