Hebraic Musing – Are we Contributing Donations or making Sacrifices?
Just
heard my Christian friend describing his thought process when a member of his
church had a need. He was willing to
kick in $20, or maybe even moved to give $100, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be
willing to give $500. As we processed
similar challenges we all have faced, we realized there are many cases where we
are more than willing to give various amounts -- up to a “breakpoint” where we
are no longer comfortable with giving that amount or more. When we reach our “breakpoint” we get to
thinking about the amount in our wallet, or the car payment that is due, or the
groceries we need, or the family budget, or … etc., etc.
We
are okay with “Contributing” or “Donating” or “Gifting” up to a certain “breakpoint”
where we are no longer comfortable.
Let’s
look at the decision the “Father of our Faith” had to make when asked to give. “Some time later God tested Abraham. He
said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your
son, your only son, Isaac, whom you ‘love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice
him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’”
Genesis 22:1-2 NIV BTW, this is the first mention of “sacrifice”
in the Bible and first mentions are often defining situations. What can we learn from the decision Abraham
was confronted with?
Then
we opened our Bibles to the Widow’s offering in the NT. “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich
putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow
put in two very small copper coins. “I tell
you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her
poverty put in all she had to live on.” Luke 21?1-3 NIV
It
might be hard to admit that much of our “giving” is from our wealth, easily
affordable, done routinely or already planned.
What kind of “giving” was Jesus recognizing as true “giving” in the
previous examples?
Is
there a difference between different kinds of “givings”? What’s the difference between “Donations” and
“Giftings” we tend to do routinely versus “Sacrificial Giving”?
Donations are the act or an
instance of donating: such as the making of a Gift especially to
a charity or public institution. (And a Gift
is simply sharing something we have that the recipient does not have.)
Sacrificial
giving
involves giving beyond what is convenient or expected, often requiring personal
sacrifice of time, money, or resources, motivated by love for God and others. It is not merely about the amount given, but
the heart and attitude behind the gift, reflecting obedience, trust, and
commitment. In the Bible, sacrificial
giving is exemplified by Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac, demonstrating
faith and trust in God’s provision.
There
is a way to find out whether our donations (or gift or contribution or weekly
offerings) are sacrificial. We need to
examine how we feel about incrementally increasing the amount we are
comfortable giving until we reach the uncomfortable “Breakpoint” amount!
Points to Ponder
Might
our gift or donation fall short of resolving the need?
Was
it the gifts from their wealth or the 2 mites from the widow that got Jesus’
attention?
How
much do you love your neighbor or a friend in need?
Who
do we trust for restoration if we give Sacrificially?
Was
Jesus’ death on the cross a donation or a sacrifice?
Does our service to His Kingdom require Sacrifices?
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell
your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21 NIV
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd April
7, 2026
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our
faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic
Musings”
