How can we apply the principle of sacrificial giving in our daily lives? Sacrificial Giving on Display (Numbers 7:70) Numbers 7:70: “one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense.” • A ten-shekel gold dish was costly—far beyond ordinary household items of the day. • It was offered freely, not under compulsion, as part of the tabernacle dedication gifts. • The giver received no earthly profit or acclaim; everything went to the service of God. Key Principles We Can Carry into Everyday Life • True giving costs us something valuable—time, resources, convenience, or comfort. • God notices both the gift and the heart behind it (1 Samuel 16:7; Mark 12:41-44). • Offerings are measured by obedience and love, not by size (2 Corinthians 8:12). Practical Ways to Practice Sacrificial Giving Today Daily choices: • Budget first for God’s work, not last; set aside a portion before other spending (Proverbs 3:9). • Give time each week to serve—quietly, faithfully—where needs are unmet (Galatians 6:10). • Practice “inconvenient generosity”: a ride, a meal, childcare, patient listening. • Simplify possessions; donate quality items, not leftovers (Luke 3:11). • Build margin in your schedule so you can respond when the Spirit prompts. Family life: • Involve children—let them place the envelope, deliver the meal, pack the box (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Celebrate God’s provision together so generosity becomes a family reflex. Workplace & community: • Quietly pay a coworker’s lunch, cover a fee, or fund a scholarship without credit. • Support local ministries that lift the vulnerable (James 1:27). • Volunteer skills—legal advice, tech help, tutoring—where they cannot be afforded. Church life: • Tithe faithfully (Malachi 3:10); then listen for additional Spirit-led opportunities. • View every church project as an altar to serve Christ, not a line item to debate (Philippians 2:14-17). Guarding the Heart While We Give • Refuse to parade gifts (Matthew 6:1-4). • Remember all we have is already the Lord’s (Psalm 24:1). • Rejoice, not resent—God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Trust His provision; sacrificial giving strengthens faith (Luke 6:38). Encouragement from Other Passages • Romans 12:1—our whole lives are living sacrifices. • Hebrews 13:16—“Do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” • 1 Chronicles 29:14—everything comes from God, and we give only what He first gave us. Closing Thought Every ten-shekel dish offered at the tabernacle foreshadowed a life lived open-handedly. When we hold nothing back—money, hours, talents—our daily routines become altars where the fragrance of Christ rises, just as that gold dish of incense once did in the wilderness. |
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