Dar: o que a Bíblia ensina sobre generosidade e ofertas
Na Bíblia, dar não é uma obrigação imposta para barganhar o favor de Deus. É o reconhecimento prático de que tudo pertence ao Criador e que os recursos que passam pelas mãos humanas servem para sustentar a vida e socorrer quem precisa.
Quando a Escritura trata da generosidade, ela avalia primeiro a intenção do coração, e não apenas a quantia entregue.
A atitude do coração: dar com liberdade e alegria
O apóstolo Paulo orienta a igreja em Corinto sobre a coleta destinada aos cristãos necessitados da Judeia. Ele deixa claro que a contribuição cristã perde o valor espiritual se for feita por pressão social, constrangimento ou tristeza. Deus se agrada da prontidão voluntária, na medida daquilo que a pessoa realmente tem.
each one, according as he purposes in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver,(2 Corinthians 9:7)
for if the willing mind is present, it is well-accepted according to that which anyone may have, not according to that which he does not have;(2 Corinthians 8:12)
and God [is] able to cause all grace to abound to you, that in everything always having all sufficiency, you may abound to every good work,(2 Corinthians 9:8)
and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,(2 Corinthians 9:10)
being enriched to all liberality in everything, which works thanksgiving through us to God,(2 Corinthians 9:11)
Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed, and shaken, and running over, they will give into your bosom; for with that measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you again."(Luke 6:38)
Generosidade prática no dia a dia
Nos livros poéticos e proféticos do Antigo Testamento, a prática de dar está ligada à justiça social e ao temor a Deus. Honrar a Deus com os bens inclui não reter o pagamento ou o socorro de quem tem direito a ele, além de defender a causa do vulnerável. A Bíblia ensina que uma vida avarenta empobrece a alma, enquanto a generosidade abre caminhos e gera comunhão.
Honor YHWH from your substance, || And from the beginning of all your increase;(Proverbs 3:9)
Do not withhold good from its owners, || When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].(Proverbs 3:27)
A liberal soul is made fat, || And whoever is watering, he also is watered.(Proverbs 11:25)
The gift of a man makes room for him, || And it leads him before the great.(Proverbs 18:16)
All the day desiring he has desired, || And the righteous gives and does not withhold.(Proverbs 21:26)
Open your mouth, judge righteously, || Both the cause of the poor and needy!"(Proverbs 31:9)
And he says to them, "Go, eat fat things, and drink sweet things, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today [is] holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your strength."(Nehemiah 8:10)
Bring in all the tithe to the treasure-house, || And there is food in My house; When you have tried Me, now, with this," said YHWH of Hosts, || "Do I not open the windows of the heavens to you? Indeed, I have emptied on you a blessing until there is no space.(Malachi 3:10)
O ensino de Jesus sobre dar sem exibição
No Sermão do Monte, Jesus adverte contra a prática de ajudar os outros apenas para ser visto e elogiado pelos homens. Dar esmola com discrição protege a dignidade de quem recebe e guarda o coração de quem doa da vaidade espiritual. Para Jesus, a graça recebida de graça deve ser repartida da mesma forma.
whenever, therefore, you may do kindness, you may not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the synagogues, and in the streets, that they may have glory from men; truly I say to you, they have their reward!(Matthew 6:2)
But you, doing kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, that your kindness may be in secret, and your Father who is seeing in secret will reward you Himself.(Matthew 6:3,4)
be healing [those] ailing, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, casting out demons—freely you received, freely give.(Matthew 10:8)
Jesus said to him, "If you will to be perfect, go away, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and come, follow Me."(Matthew 19:21)
And to everyone who is asking of you, be giving; and from him who is taking away your goods, do not be asking again;(Luke 6:30)
A origem de tudo o que temos
Ao reunir materiais para a construção do templo, o rei Davi resumiu a essência de qualquer oferta: ninguém dá nada a Deus que já não seja d'Ele por direito. Sem amor genuíno ao próximo e sem gratidão ao Criador, mesmo a doação de todos os bens torna-se vazia.
indeed, because who [am] I, and who [are] my people, that we retain power to offer thus willingly? But the whole [is] from You, and we have given to You out of Your [own] hand;(1 Chronicles 29:14)
And delight yourself on YHWH, || And He gives to you the petitions of your heart.(Psalms 37:4)
The wicked is borrowing and does not repay, || And the righteous is gracious and giving.(Psalms 37:21)
and if I give away all my goods to feed others, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and do not have love, I am profited nothing.(1 Corinthians 13:3)
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