Exodus 35:4-9
& 20-24
4 Moses said to the whole
Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has
commanded: 5 From what you have, take an
offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue,
purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram
skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing
oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and
onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece…
20 Then the whole Israelite
community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21 and
everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an
offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for
the sacred garments. 22 All who were
willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds:
brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a
wave offering to the Lord. 23 Everyone
who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins
dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24 Those
presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought
it.
Even
though the Israelites were transient desert wanderers at the time, God
commanded them to give of what they had to make the tabernacle, all the
tabernacle articles, and the priestly garments. He didn’t force them, though.
He let them give out of a willing heart.
He
does the same today. He commands us to give, but He doesn’t force us. What are
you and I willingly giving to God’s work? Sometimes the easiest thing is to give
money. We often give out of our excess or what we think we can live without.
However, the Israelites gave up items from every part of their lives, not just
money. They gave up valuable possessions and materials.
Will
you and I ask God what He wants from us?
We
can ask Him what our church or another ministry around us needs. Then, we can
look for His direction.
When
God shows us, will you and I willingly give to provide for His work through
that ministry?
Alice
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