EDITORIAL—OFFERINGS
A legend is told about a chicken and a cow. One day they walked side by side, going down a road headed to town. On the way, they noticed a poster promoting a fund-raising banquet, with the funds to be given to a local charity. Both the chicken and the cow thought they should help but couldn’t think of a way to do it. After a moment of pondering, the chicken suddenly said, “I know how we can give an OFFERING. I will donate a dozen eggs, and you can donate a box of burgers.” The cow replied, “What? Hold it!! A dozen eggs from you is just a contribution, but a burger from me is a real sacrifice; it is a total commitment. For eggs, you don’t have to die; but for burgers, I will have to die!”
It is a humorous legend but filled with truth. “OFFERINGS” is a synonym for “sacrifices.” In the Old Testament dispensation, OFFERINGS were almost always equal to sacrifices. Remember the story of Cain and Abel? They were the first humans ever to make an OFFERING. Genesis 4:3, 4 recorded, “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground and OFFERING unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his OFFERING” (KJV).
If we dig more deeply into the book of Genesis, we will find that God Himself was the first ever to make an OFFERING. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.” This was a preceding condition of the “cloth of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10), which was to clothe humankind thousands of years after Adam’s fall. The “skins” that clothed Adam and Eve beginning the day they ate the fruit from the tree of “good and evil” was a lamb’s skin, a lamb that was killed—symbolizing Jesus, “the Lamb of God” who would be killed as a perfect OFFERING and sacrifice in years to come. This was interpreted by Revelation 13:8: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (KJV). Jesus was slain since the very beginning of this earth’s history. His offering was a total commitment, not a contribution, and that is what God expects from us.
There is a misconception about OFFERINGS. Many people equate OFFERINGS with money, with materialistic things. This is not fully true. OFFERINGS can be in the form of TIME; we dedicate our time to pray, to serve, and to do ministry. OFFERINGS can also be related to our MIND; we dedicate our thoughts, ideas, wisdom, and knowledge to the furtherance of God’s work. OFFERINGS may be in the form of SKILLS; we dedicate our abilities, expertise, and experiences in God’s vineyard. OFFERINGS can also be in the form of MONEY; we dedicate our wealth and possessions to spread the Word of God and His kingdom. Above all, an OFFERING can be in the form of LIFE; we dedicate our bodies, strengths, and our whole LIVES as a living OFFERING, sacrificing and committing ourselves to the Lord and dedicating our “all” to Him.
Let’s make a simple pledge to God, giving our OFFERINGS through a real sacrifice and total commitment to the duty with which God has entrusted us.
Hiskia Missah
Editor
