What is a free will offering?

Answer

The freewill offering was a sacrifice regulated by God’s standards in the Mosaic Law, but it was entirely voluntary «beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. », (Leviticus 23:38). In the Law, the freewill offering was to be a male bull, sheep, or goat with no physical deformities or blemishes, and it was not to have been purchased from a foreigner (Leviticus 22:17-25). The offering was to include flour mixed with oil and wine; the amounts varied depending on whether the sacrifice was a lamb, bull, or ram (Numbers 15:1-10). As with all sacrifices, the freewill offering was to be made in a place of God’s choosing, not in an area formerly used by other religions or at home (Deuteronomy 12). Although it was appropriate to give the sacrifice during formal feast days, it could be given at any time «And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: », (Deuteronomy 16:10). Unlike other offerings governed by stricter rules, the priests could eat the freewill offering on the day it was sacrificed or the day after (Leviticus 7:16-18).

Freewill offerings did not always have to be animals or grain or drink offerings. The first time a freewill offering is mentioned in the Bible is in Exodus 35:10–29. God had given insInstructions on how to build the tabernacle were given, and Moses communicated the necessary supplies for its construction. The people responded as their hearts stirred them, bringing jewelry, fine yarn, tanned skins, silver, bronze, acacia wood, onyx stones, spices, and oil. These items were all donated as a freewill offering to the Lord, “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses” (Exodus 35:29). Centuries later, the people made similar offerings for David to pass on to Solomon to build the temple (1 Chronicles 29:6-9). In the book of Ezra, the people gave traditional animal offerings, “and afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD” (Ezra 3:5), as well as supplies to rebuild the temple after the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2:68; Ezra 7:16; Ezra 8:28). The people also made animal offerings in 2 Chronicles 31 when King Hezekiah, one of Judah’s best kings, led the nation in returning to God and reinstituting His ceremonies. In Ezekiel 46:12, free will offerings are mentioned as being offered in the millennial kingdom.

Whether it was the sacrifice of an animal or donated supplies for a place of worship, the freewill offering was to be given freely, as the Lord moved the Israelites’ hearts. It was not to be used to gain prestige, “and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh.”You, O children of Israel, says the Lord GOD. (Amos 4:5) or because of guilt, inducement, or force. Today, the free will offering is the only offering we have. There is no tithe demanded on the church. We rely on the sacrifice of Jesus and not the sacrifice of animals for our atonement. All the money, time, and resources we give are to be freely given, as the Spirit leads. The challenge for many is recognizing and obeying “when the Spirit leads.” God has given us everything we have; if He moves our hearts «The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. », (Exodus 35:29), then we should cheerfully give «Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. », (2 Corinthians 9:7).