SPECI AL I S S UE O N O FFER I NGS
PROPORTIONAL OFFERINGS S pi r i t u al Li fe a nd C hurch M i s s i on
DEMÓSTENES NEVES DA SILVA Introduction
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rom the beginning of this world’s history, Cain’s and Abel’s offerings teach us that giving is vital to worship. They also show that the giver’s spiritual state is essential for the offering to be acceptable (Gen. 4:1-7). The offering was an indispensable part of public worship during Israel’s great feasts, where one was not to come before God “emptyhanded” (Deut. 16:16).1 In those instances, the offering would be an acknowledgment of the blessings and not a means to acquire them; an expression of gratitude, not salvation through works. Approximately two dozen different words are used in the Old Testament to describe the various types of offerings and their meanings.This shows that giving, so strongly present in the people’s
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vocabulary, was part of the way in which they perceived and lived their lives. Therefore, all offerings pointed to a general view that God is the owner of all things (Ps. 24:1). In this article, we will limit our discussion to three aspects relating to the proportionality of offerings. The first deals with mandatory offerings; the second with freewill offerings; and the third addresses the qualitative aspect of giving. As we will see, these three aspects point to proportionality as a response to divine blessings, an indicator of the giver’s spiritual life and commitment to the church’s mission. Mandatory Offerings As a part of worship, mandatory offerings were previously determined and established by biblical instruction. However, as the following examples show, in spite of having been established in terms of the produce, animals, or amounts to be given, these offerings observed some type of proportion relative to the financial status of the giver. An example of these are sin offerings (Lev. 4-5), which were given in gratitude for healing (Lev. 12:1-33) and those given for the birth of a child and purification after birth (Lev. 14:10, 11, 21-31). Thus, depending on the seriousness of the offense and the person’s status (a prince, a rich person, or a poor person), the sin offerings and other mandatory offerings varied from bulls and calves to rams, goats, lambs, doves, and pigeons. This way, there was always a correlation between each person’s ability to contribute and their offering. The offering or its proportional value had already been determined, and the worshipper had only to obey. The fixed and mandatory proportion is also found in different circumstances during Israel’s history, showing God´s way of dealing with His people. Here are some examples. In the redemption of slaves and properties. In this case, a proportion was used according to time. The value of the redemption paid should be proportional to the proximity of the Jubilee, when a general amnesty of the debt would occur (Lev. 25:52). The farther away the Jubilee, the more valuable
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