How can we apply the principle of sacrificial giving in our lives today? Seeing the Example — Numbers 7:67 “and his offering was one silver dish weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels (both according to the sanctuary shekel), both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;” What Stands Out in the Offering • Costly metal: 200 shekels of silver (about 3.5 kg) willingly released. • Precise obedience: weight “according to the sanctuary shekel.” • Purposeful content: fine flour and oil, fully usable in worship. • Personal participation: each tribal leader brought the same, no one exempt. Timeless Principles of Sacrificial Giving • Give what has value to you, not leftovers (2 Samuel 24:24). • Honor God’s standard, not culture’s convenience (Proverbs 3:9-10). • Join the community of faith in unified generosity (Acts 4:34-35). • Aim for worship, not display—God sees the heart (Matthew 6:3-4). Practical Ways to Live It Today 1. Budget with the Lord first in mind—set aside the “first and best” portion before other expenses. 2. Allow giving to reorder priorities; postpone a personal purchase so ministry needs are met. 3. Support local church ministries regularly, then add special gifts for missions, relief work, or a struggling family. 4. Serve with time and skills as well as money—both were present in the tabernacle dedication. 5. Give anonymously when possible; let gratitude, not recognition, fuel joy. 6. Revisit giving levels yearly, asking whether faith has grown since last review (2 Corinthians 8:7). Looking to the Ultimate Sacrifice • Christ “loved us and gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). Every gift we bring is a small echo of His. • Romans 12:1 calls believers to present their bodies “as a living sacrifice,” turning daily life—work, conversations, hospitality—into offerings. Encouragement from Other Givers in Scripture • The widow’s two small coins — she “put in more than all the others” (Luke 21:1-4). • The Macedonians — “their extreme poverty overflowed into rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). • Barnabas — sold land and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:36-37). A Lifestyle of Worshipful Generosity Sacrificial giving is less about the size of the dish or the bowl and more about the size of the surrender behind it. By joyfully offering valuable resources, precise obedience, and heartfelt worship, we step into the same stream of faith that flowed through the tabernacle dedication and continues through the church today. |
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