As a child, I looked forward to going to chapel with my schoolmates, just to look at the floral arrangements at the altar. I have always loved flowers and enjoy the myriad of colours, sizes, textures, shapes, juxtapositions of floral parts and leaves. I praise God that He is such a wonderful creator.

When I was given the opportunity to serve as a floral steward, I was thrilled. As a floral steward, I was responsible for doing the floral arrangements to be used during the Sunday Worship Service. I have titled this article as “Confessions of a floral steward” because I realised how little I knew about floral offerings even though I was doing the arrangements.
Since I started as a floral steward, I have learnt more about the variety of flowers and leaves, I also learnt much more about making offerings to God.

What is a floral offering? Is there a biblical basis?
I used to think that the flowers on the altar were for decoration, bringing some colour and freshness into an otherwise cold and severe place. The typical appearance of the inside of churches was cold white marble or dark wood panelling. The colourful floral arrangements contributed to a sense of fragrance, vibrancy and a testimony to God the creator. But these were not just floral arrangements, they were floral offerings.

An offering is a general word for gifts and sacrifices that people may bring to God. From what I have read, the floral offering can be considered as a fellowship offering. Fellowship offerings, also translated as peace offering (RSV) and shared-offering (NEB) point to the healthy relationships among those who offer it . Personal reasons for bringing a fellowship offering included thanksgiving, fulfilment of a vow, or just any occasion for a freewill offering (e.g. Lev 7:11-18, 1 Sam 1).

What is important in making a floral offering or any other offering?

  • Not the value of the offering but the motivation of the worshipper.
    In the Bible, it was stated that wild animals were not acceptable, only domesticated ones which have a cost on the giver. Similarly, grains and first fruits were to be offered. These offerings were voluntary, and brought whenever the worshipper was motivated to do so. It was also possible for the very poor to offer, not a large animal but a small bird. In Mark 12: 41-43, Jesus upheld the poor widow who gave two small copper coins, as an example for all to follow, because she gave all she had. Thus it was not the material value but the motivation of the worshipper that mattered most to God.
  • Make an offering that is acceptable to the Lord
    The New Bible Commentary explains that the instructions for sacrifices given in Leviticus were “given by God’s initiative, to a people that had already experienced his redemption in the exodus”. These sacrifices were not for achieving salvation or buying favours, but rather to “maintain the relationship already established by God’s redemptive action”, and teaching that “forgiveness and fellowship were not cheap”. David recognised that a sacrifice which cost nothing was not a sacrifice at all (2 Sam 24:24). What is an acceptable offering?

    • An offering that is without defect
      There was one incident when I first started as a floral steward, and I will never forget this lesson. Growing up in a hand to mouth environment, I learnt very early how to live within our means by “making do” with lower quality in food, clothes and so on. This frugal mindset became second nature to me so much so that when I went to buy the flowers for the offering, I unconsciously also hunted for bargains, cheap sales etc. mistakenly thinking that I was being a good steward.One day, I saw some beautiful irises being sold for about a fifth the usual price. Naively, I quickly bought a few bunches. It was only when I brought everything back to church that I realised some of the centres were rotten! As I didn’t have time to replace them, I carefully washed out the rotten cores, thinking that we will just have to “make do”.

      Next morning, I got to church early as I was worried about the flowers. No one else seemed to have noticed, but I did – there was a distinct stench of rot near the altar. It cut deep into my heart; I was filled with shame and guilt about what I had done with the offering.

      I confessed my sin, and prayed for God’s forgiveness. In my enthusiasm, I forgot that it was to God that the offering was made. I remembered the story of Cain, and how he tried to “make do” by offering “some of the fruits” instead of the first fruits to God (Gen 4: 2- 4). Did I, like Cain, think that God could be fooled?

      The Bible tells us that “the offering must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable” (Lev 22:21) – how many of my offerings have been rejected by God?

      In repentance, I turned away from this old attitude and with God’s help, changed my attitude towards making offerings. Here are some ways this incident has impacted my service in this area and others.

    • An aroma that is pleasing to the Lord
      This phrase is usually used with burnt offerings, literally describing the smoke and smells rising up during burning. I was reminded of this phrase one day when a bunch of flowers I bought started to smell even as I was arranging them. I realised the smell came from some insecticide or fertiliser used. Remembering my lesson from the earlier incident, I decided to wash the flowers, one by one to get rid of the smell. It was tedious, but I had learnt my lesson.
    • Taking care with the offering, remove dirt and defects
      Lev 1:9 described how the sacrificial animals were to be washed so as to remove mud and excrement. In my case, care is taken to wash off any mud and insecticide caked on the flowers and leaves. Broken flowers and leaves are not used. I have learnt to buy a little more than we need, rather than be tempted later to use some of the broken leaves, or crushed flowers or worm-bitten ones.
    • Only the best for the Lord.
      God doesn’t need our sacrifices. Our sacrifices show our attitude towards God. I searched the Bible for more lessons on offerings and found this passage: Malachi 1: 6-14. Like Israel, we don’t even realise when we have shown contempt. Do we keep the best for ourselves and give second best to God? Have we lit “useless fires on the altar”?
      I realised that though I am fine with “making do” for myself, I cannot use the same attitude when it comes to giving to God. There is no “making do”, but only “making the best” for God.
      When Mary poured the expensive perfume at Jesus’ feet (John 12), she had the right attitude. It didn’t matter to her that Jesus would be with them for only a short while, or that she could have sold the perfume to help the poor. At that moment of offering, she simply gave of the best that she had.

      • This is written in gratitude to God for His grace and patience in dealing with me.

- Kwok Wan Yee