The command to give on “every first day of the week” (1 Cor. 16:1-2) is truly a blessing from God! We need (for our own good) to give to Him! One of the great advances in technology that has been beneficial to Christians and to congregations alike is the ability to give online. BUT, if you give online, do you worship when you do?
Giving is not merely about the giving (any more than the singing is merely about putting words to a tune or the Lord’s Supper is about having some bread and juice)! Giving is something that I must do from my “heart” (2 Cor. 9:7). It is very easy, especially with online giving, to NOT have my heart engaged in the worship during the time for giving to God. God is LESS interested in what the bank is doing in the transfer of funds to the church (same thing if you write a check) than He is in what your heart is doing in the transfer of love to Him (cf. 2 Cor. 8:8, 24).
When we give online, let’s make sure that we “first” give ourselves “to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:5). Actually, this applies to all worshipers, no matter how they give, doesn’t it?