Give as You Are Able - Deuteronomy 16:17

Continuing in the “why we do it” theme, we see this command from God.

Deuteronomy 16:17  New Living Translation

17 All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God.

This verse comes at the end of a passage that describes three festivals that God commands Israel to celebrate each year - Passover, the Festival of the Harvest, and the Festival of the Tabernacles. When discussing the Festivals of the Harvest and Tabernacles, the passage says there will be great joy among the people, and then says that all must give as they are able, according to what they have received from God. I think it’s a reasonable conclusion to say that giving is a celebration, that giving and Joy are divinely connected.

I read a commentary that said that if the people who lived under the Law, with its many rules and rituals of sacrifice, were to celebrate and experience great joy when giving, how much more should we, who are now free from the Law since we are redeemed in Christ, celebrate joyously? God has given us so much more than He gave to Israel: He gave us His Son. So it makes sense that God’s Word on giving would apply even more to us.


Prayer Over the Offering
Gracious God, as Deuteronomy 16:17 reminds us, we come before you today with offerings that reflect the blessings you have bestowed upon us; each giving according to the measure of your bounty in our lives. May these gifts be a testament to our gratitude, used to further your kingdom and bring hope to those in need. We offer them with joyful hearts, knowing that everything we have comes from you, and to you we return it in praise and thanksgiving. We pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.