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AUTHOR: Aniel Barbe
Holy to the Lord!
Numbers 18:8
“Then the LORD said to Aaron, ‘I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share’”.
We worship God with our offerings because offerings are holy to the Lord. The adjective “holy” is often associated with the Sabbath and the tithe, but rarely with offerings. However, the Scriptures are full of references regarding the holiness of offerings. Among other passages, the Bible declares that two expiatory offerings, the sin and guilt offerings, are “most holy” (Lev. 6:25; 7:1), and the grain and food offerings are described as “a most holy part” and “sacred.” (Lev. 2:3; 22:10). The offering is a very special means set aside and established by God for His children to use in worship and enjoy a unique encounter with Him. It was an indispensable component of the life of the children of Israel; neglecting the practice of offering was equivalent to robbing God (Mal. 3:8) of the honor due to Him.
In ancient Israel, through the giving of offerings, God’s children were worshiping and praising Him, celebrating Him as the Giver of the Holy One, affirming Him as Lord, acknowledging Him as Owner, Provider, and Sustainer, showing a willingness to obey, supporting the holy ministry, and being a blessing for many. God set the amount or value of some offerings, yet for other offerings He left it to the personal choice of the worshiper. Nonetheless, according to what someone received, the general principle was always to give in proportion (Deut. 16:17) and give the very best to God as offerings (Numbers 18:32).
Today, it is common knowledge that the ratio of tithe to offerings is often in favor of tithe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a clear trend: in 2020, there was a significantly higher reduction in offerings than in tithe, although in the world field both declined; however, by the grace of God and the faithfulness of His people, over all tithe increased that year. This week, as we worship with our regular offerings, let us acknowledge the holy functions of these offerings.
Prayer: Lord, we praise You for the privilege to worship. Please help us to value the holy practice of giving offerings.