Master, No Offering

“Master, No Offering” is a reflective hymn written by Edwin Pond Parker in 1885 that explores the believer’s sense of inadequacy before the holiness of God. Parker, a 19th-century American hymn writer, often emphasized sincerity, humility, and personal devotion in his works. This hymn captures the honest acknowledgment that human offerings, gifts, or deeds are never sufficient to earn God’s favor, but a heart devoted to Him is what matters most.

The hymn draws on biblical passages such as 2 Samuel 24:24, where David refuses to offer God a sacrifice that costs him nothing, declaring, “I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” Similarly, Malachi 1:8 highlights God’s desire for sincere, heartfelt devotion rather than mere ritual. Parker’s hymn also echoes the lesson from Luke 21:1-4, where Jesus commends the poor widow for giving all she had, illustrating that the value of an offering is measured by the heart behind it rather than its size or material worth.

In the hymn, the believer confesses that no gift, however generous, can match the holiness and love of God. Instead, the emphasis is placed on a heart fully surrendered, willing to obey, trust, and serve. This fosters spiritual reflection and challenges worshippers to examine their motivations and the sincerity of their devotion.

“Master, No Offering” has been used in personal devotions and congregational singing to remind believers that God treasures faithfulness and love above material offerings. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple, honest acknowledgment of human limitation and the call to a life of wholehearted consecration. Through the hymn, Parker encourages Christians to offer themselves entirely to God, trusting that He values devotion far more than outward gifts.