Leviticus 7
More offerings! There are so many kinds of offerings no wonder the Lord had to give such detailed instructions. After reading these last few chapters, I'm still not sure what the difference is between a sin offering and a guilt offering.
Many congregations have come up with their own designations for various offerings. These offerings usually (hopefully) have nothing to do with purchasing forgiveness or freedom from guilt. Usually, these offerings are broken down into things like the freewill offering that usually goes to the general fund; maybe a building fund and/or a memorial fund; maybe a fund for a specific mission; or a specific capital improvement that may be needed. We even have a kitchen fund at Zion, although I'm not sure what it is for. It's just been sitting there for awhile. There was a time when that fund was necessary. But, now we have about the most updated church kitchen in the county. All these accounts can be extra work for the bookkeeper as she tries to make sure that funds are deposited and withdrawn from the accounts they need to be and prays that while all these offerings sit in designated funds we have enough in general fund to pay the heating bill. We have cleaned up these accounts a couple of times since I've been here, but it seems we keep adding them back on.
Not everyone likes to give freewill offerings. Some, it seems, find it more beneficial to designate. The freewill offering was an offering given simply because of one's happiness or joy. It causes me to wonder where our joy is when we choose not to give freely. I spoke with one the other day who has difficulty giving to anyone. They neither give to the church or any social organization that helps people in need. Their attitude toward giving was definitely not one of joy. So that brings me to another question: do we give freely because of the joy we feel over what was first given us, that being among other things life and salvation through Jesus Christ, or does freely giving instill in us a sense of joy knowing that as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we help others to know peace and joy or do we give freely because of a combination of both?
As I look at the chapters ahead, I see that we are about through with the chapters on sacrifices so this morning (today being Sunday) I will give freely in joyful thanksgiving for that being accomplished :)
More offerings! There are so many kinds of offerings no wonder the Lord had to give such detailed instructions. After reading these last few chapters, I'm still not sure what the difference is between a sin offering and a guilt offering.
Many congregations have come up with their own designations for various offerings. These offerings usually (hopefully) have nothing to do with purchasing forgiveness or freedom from guilt. Usually, these offerings are broken down into things like the freewill offering that usually goes to the general fund; maybe a building fund and/or a memorial fund; maybe a fund for a specific mission; or a specific capital improvement that may be needed. We even have a kitchen fund at Zion, although I'm not sure what it is for. It's just been sitting there for awhile. There was a time when that fund was necessary. But, now we have about the most updated church kitchen in the county. All these accounts can be extra work for the bookkeeper as she tries to make sure that funds are deposited and withdrawn from the accounts they need to be and prays that while all these offerings sit in designated funds we have enough in general fund to pay the heating bill. We have cleaned up these accounts a couple of times since I've been here, but it seems we keep adding them back on.
Not everyone likes to give freewill offerings. Some, it seems, find it more beneficial to designate. The freewill offering was an offering given simply because of one's happiness or joy. It causes me to wonder where our joy is when we choose not to give freely. I spoke with one the other day who has difficulty giving to anyone. They neither give to the church or any social organization that helps people in need. Their attitude toward giving was definitely not one of joy. So that brings me to another question: do we give freely because of the joy we feel over what was first given us, that being among other things life and salvation through Jesus Christ, or does freely giving instill in us a sense of joy knowing that as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we help others to know peace and joy or do we give freely because of a combination of both?
As I look at the chapters ahead, I see that we are about through with the chapters on sacrifices so this morning (today being Sunday) I will give freely in joyful thanksgiving for that being accomplished :)
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