Why the Phrase “No More-No Less” Could Be Your Weakness or Your Saving Grace
Exodus 30:16 says: The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the Lord to make atonement for yourselves.
When it comes to our offerings to the Lord, there are different schools of thought. Some believe that you should give 10% as an offering, no more no less, following Old Testament prescription. Others believe that 10% is a starting point, especially in our affluent society. Others say give as the Spirit leads you; your spiritual growth will determine your offering.
Those who believe that offerings are a measure of our spiritual life more often believe that as you mature, less will needed by us because we see what we already have, and we will give more generously to the Lord because of the outpouring of blessings we are currently rich with. It is a sliding scale based on our wisdom and joy.
The half shekel tax was to be directed to the service of the tent of meeting, the place where God would meet His people. Later, in a more permanent place it would be know as the Tabernacle. Because it was directed to a place and on behalf of a common problem, I believe there are a couple of reasons that this tax was a fixed amount and not a percentage.
Here we see a command to pay exactly one-half shekel, no matter your circumstances, wealthy or poor. I believe it is the heart of God reflected in this command. All of our life is to be in submission to the Lord, and a measure of ourselves we offer up to reflect God’s work in us. But this command is to the message of atonement, a contract against the original sin that hovers over all of us and over which there is no sliding scale, because there is no one who escapes its wrath. This command shows how God cares for each of us equally and how equally we are all condemned by the power of the Law. In sin, as we stand before the judgment seat of God, we are the same. I believe God did not want anyone to think that they were more or less worthy of His grace. All must see that their sins were worthy of the same condemnation as the person next to them. All sin must find atonement.
But since the tax was to be directed toward the upkeep of God’s House, I believe the fixed amount had implications for the future as well. Since it was a fixed amount, the wealthy could not lord their contribution over others who would only be able to give so much. I believe God did not want people to believe that He would show favoritism to those who had more to give. God foreknew that if wealthier people were to give more, they would assume they had more control over how or what was done for them. This neutral tax made sure that all people had access to its use. James, in his letter to the church, talks about this favoritism that was already alive and well in the early church. And we have to be on our guard in every age against it as well.
The heart of God behind this rule gives a great window into the shocking idea that we are all sinners and that sin in the eyes of God, no matter how trivial, is worthy of eternal consequences. It’s amazing, after reading a passage like this, that anyone could believe that they can buy their way into Heaven and out of Hell.
For all of us, Jesus paid it all. No more, no less. It was satisfied. The tax-collector cometh, but Jesus stops him at the door. We need to be reminded that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That is why in church we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone and everyone, because in the House of God, we cannot hide from the consequences of sin. We can only choose to hide from His grace. And that is why we should rejoice when we get the opportunity to also kneel together with those whose tongues confess that they are unworthy, but trust that God has given all equal-footing in the Gospel.
This points us where we need to go in Lent. Celebrate the mercy for all. Amen.
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