How can we apply the principle of equal giving in our church today? Equal Giving: Learning from Numbers 7:85 “Each silver dish weighed 130 shekels and each silver bowl 70 shekels—all weighed according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the silver dishes and bowls was 2,400 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.” What Equal Giving Looked Like in Israel • Twelve tribal leaders appeared before the Lord over twelve days, each supplying the same items, in the same weights, at the same cost. • No tribe was celebrated for out-giving another; the focus was shared obedience, not personal distinction. • The sanctuary shekel set one standard of measurement, preventing inflation or manipulation. Why the Lord Required Uniform Gifts • Unity: Each tribe signaled, “We stand together in covenant worship.” • Fairness: God protected poorer tribes from being shamed or overshadowed (cf. Exodus 30:15). • Reverence: Precise equality underscored that the altar belonged to God, not to any donor’s prestige. Carrying the Principle into Church Life Today 1. Teach common responsibility – Emphasize that every member is called to regular, proportional giving (1 Corinthians 16:2). – Celebrate faithfulness, not dollar amounts. 2. Highlight sacrificial parity, not numerical parity – “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). – A widow’s two mites may equal—or exceed—the check of a millionaire in God’s sight (Luke 21:3-4). 3. Promote transparency and agreed standards – Publish clear budgets so everyone knows where offerings go. – Use accountable systems (e.g., multiple counters, annual audits) that mirror the sanctuary shekel’s fixed weight. 4. Foster mutual supply within the body – When some face hardship, surplus from others balances the need: “Then there will be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:14). – Benevolence funds, grocery drives, and utility assistance express equal giving in practical form. Practical Steps for Congregations • Invite every household to pray over a percentage-based commitment, so each gift rises with income and is never demeaned by size. • Pair budgeted giving with spontaneous mercy offerings; weekly envelopes and special envelopes can coexist. • Schedule occasional “all-in” offerings—designated days when the entire church contributes to one cause, reviving the shared-altar moment of Numbers 7. • Tell stories of impact, not amounts: testimonies of missionaries funded, families helped, facilities built. This shifts applause from givers to God. Scriptures That Echo the Pattern • Exodus 30:15—rich and poor give the same half-shekel ransom. • 2 Corinthians 8:13-14—surplus meeting need for equality. • Acts 4:34-35—believers lay proceeds at the apostles’ feet, and “there was not a needy one among them.” • Luke 21:3-4—the widow honored for giving “more than all the others.” Living the Lesson This Week • Examine your heart: is generosity measured by percentage of income, or by comparison with others? • Give intentionally at the next service, remembering the equal bowls and dishes of Numbers 7:85. • Encourage someone of limited means that their participation matters; God weighs the motive, not merely the shekel. • Look for a need in your congregation or community where your surplus can answer someone’s lack, fulfilling the biblical call to equal giving. |
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