After He communicated all the plans, God then made provision for the tabernacle building supplies:
Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 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. 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. 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. 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. Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do (Exodus 35:20-29, emphasis added).
There were two requirements for anyone who was going to make a donation to the Moses' Tabernacle Building Fund. First, they had to be willing, which is stated four times in these ten verses. Then where it was not a donation of raw materials, they had to be skilled for not just any donation was to be accepted. Only those things that were produced with excellence were to be given and received. In other words, the people did not have to give, they had to see it as a wonderful opportunity to give—and do so with a glad heart.
What is your attitude when it comes to giving of who God made you to be? What does your vocabulary say when you speak of serving the Lord? Do you say you have to do or give something or do you choose to do it? Are you coerced out of fear or motivated by love and gratitude? Do you offer the gifts that God gave you willingly or grudgingly? This distinction is important for it will determine the quality of what you do and the spirit in which you did it will go along with your gift, and where God is concerned only the best given with a right heart will do.
Comments