8. What distinguished voluntary offerings from tithing?

⁸ Second, in addition to the tithing requirement, Jehovah arranged for the Israelites to make voluntary contributions. He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites: “On your coming into the land where I am bringing you, it must also occur that when you eat any of the bread of the land, you should make a contribution to Jehovah.” Some of the firstfruits of their “coarse meal as ring-shaped cakes” were to be presented as “a contribution to Jehovah” throughout their generations. Note that no specific amount of these firstfruits was required. (Numbers 15:18-21) But when the Israelites offered a contribution in thanksgiving, they were assured a blessing from Jehovah. A similar arrangement is seen in connection with the temple in Ezekiel’s vision. We read: “The first of all the first ripe fruits of everything and every contribution of everything out of all your contributions​—to the priests it will come to belong; and the firstfruits of your coarse meals you should give to the priest, in order to cause a blessing to rest upon your house.”​—Ezekiel 44:30.

13. What lesson comes from the arrangements for voluntary contributions and gleaning?

¹³ In addition, we can profit from considering the other two provisions by which the Israelites could show their appreciation​—voluntary contributions and gleaning. In contrast to tithing, which was a requirement with a clearly defined commitment, voluntary contributions and the gleaning arrangement did not require a fixed amount. Rather, they allowed for the depth of appreciation a servant of Jehovah had in his heart to prompt him to act. In a comparable way, although we appreciate that participation in the ministry and attendance at Christian meetings are a fundamental responsibility of every servant of Jehovah, do we share in them wholeheartedly and with a willing spirit? Do we view them as an opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation for all that Jehovah has done for us? Do we share liberally in these activities, to the extent our individual circumstances permit? Or do we view all of this only as an obligation that we must discharge? These, of course, are questions that we must answer personally. The apostle Paul put it this way: “Let each one prove what his own work is, and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.”​—Galatians 6:4.