Equal Price per Head

Scripture: The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives. Exodus 30:15

Observation: As part of the initiation of operations for the temple/tabernacle and the jobs of the priests, God proclaims a one-time offering as an atonement for all who were redeemed from Egypt. I defines the amount - a half shekel - and then provides this instruction, that all are to give it, and the rich are not to give more, nor the poor less. This is not consistent with a tithe, which is dependent upon wealth, nor is it consistent with other offerings that have the ability to change based on the giver's means.

In other words, all who are redeemed are worth the same. The rich, the leaders, the priests, the skilled, the wise, the strong, the men ... they are not worth more. The poor, the infirm, the laborers, the immoral, the uneducated, the weak, the women ... they are not worth less. Everyone who is redeemed is of equal value, and the price to redeem them is fixed and unilateral.

Application: When Jesus redeemed all of us, the paid the same for each person. His sacrifice was the same for me as it was for anyone else. There wasn't a greater sacrifice for noble and great people, and some lesser means for redeeming poor people. Nor was there a greater sacrifice for the wretched and wicked sinners that there was for good and upright and faithful believers. We are of equal value to the Lord.

I would do well to always remember that every person is of equal value to the Lord, and our salvation then is of equal cost. I am no better, and I am also no worse. Especially when interacting with other believers, I should recall that the Lord paid the same for their belief as he did for mine.

Prayer: Lord, as I draw closer to my community of faith, please continue to give me your eyes and your heart and your mind in considering others. I seek community with these brothers and sisters more than I have in the past. Thank you for revealing the wonder of their love to me. Amen.