Theme: Give what you have
Text: Exodus 35:20-29
Greetings: The Lord is good and his love endures forever!
A Sunday school teacher asked children to write short notes for the first three chapters of Genesis. Many wrote the creation story in their own style. One boy wrote:
“In the beginning God created the earth and rested. Then God created man and rested. Then God created woman, and since then neither God nor man has rested.”
Introduction:
Kindly Observe the text for the day: Freewill offering was from the people whose Hearts were stirred and willing, Spirits were willing. (Exodus 35:21, 29). They offered brooches, earrings, signet rings and pendants, all sorts of gold objects, and of linens, and of leather items, and of silver and bronze and of wood planks. All the skilful women brought spun and linen. Onyx and gem stones, and oil for the light.
Today, I would like to remind you from this passage that Giving to God is:
An act of worship, An act of ownership, and An act of stewardship. Let me begin with how giving is an act of worship.
An act of worship
Our worship is an exchange of blessings, it is inclusive act of receiving from the Lord and giving to the Lord. We are to receive his blessings, healings, words of assurances, comforts, consolations, counsels a directives for our lives on the earth.
We are also here to praise him, exalt him through music and singing, we thank him for all that we received from him for the healings, and give him. We are present in the church as an of obedience and submission to the Lord. We give our body, soul and spirit as part of worship. God is pleased with our worship.
For ex., Hannah went to the temple at Shiloh, she was down in her spirit and cried unto the Lord for the blessing of a son. She made an vow that if the Lord give her a son, she would offer him to the Lord, that is she would leave her son. This is the act of worship. We receive and give back to the Lord.
We read in Exodus 35 that Moses received the command of the Lord and communicated to them to the general assembly. He received these revelations while he spent his time in prayer and fasting. We should obey the voice of God, and yield to the revelation of the Lord.
Then they went to their tents and brought whatever they had. They offered gold, silver, bronze ornaments, linens with embroidery and decorative skilful items and wooden items plus the oils. All the Israelites men and women. It was a community participation.
Usually, the Israelites were stiff necked, disobedient, arrogant but for the first time we see their unquestioned Obedience to the call of God was spontaneous and voluntary. The desire of God was expressed but not compelled. So, what people brought to the Lord was a free-will offering. They looked at what they possessed and brought it (Exodus 35:21).
The fact that the word ‘brought’ occurs several times in this passage emphasizes the significance of voluntary giving (Exodus 35:21,22,23,24a,b,25,28,29a,b). There are nine statements here that highlights the fact that the giving on the part of the congregation was to be voluntary. They were not to give under compulsion.
Deuteronomy 15:10 Give without grudgingly: “You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God would bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Give Cheerfully: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
An act of ownership
The Tabernacle was placed in the most prominent place for the redeemed people of God. Almost one-third of the Book of Exodus mentions the construction of the Tabernacle, the ritual paraphernalia, and the ritual procedures for the priests in carrying out their ministry.
As long as the tabernacle was there, the People were reminded that God was with them. The Tabernacle prepared them for the Promised Land.
We are the visible representation of the invisible church of God. Our life, our walks, our values and our and fellowship make the world to identify Jesus who is the real embodiment of love, and eternal life.
A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend upon that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do on the last day.”
In Exodus 25:2 we read, “Tell the sons of Israel to take a contribution for Me; from everyone whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.”
Deuteronomy 16:16-17: No empty hands: “No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed. Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.”
Exodus 35:29 says that both men and women were moved in their hearts and involved in the Tabernacle’s financing and construction. Each person participated voluntarily. No one was strong-armed to participate like the building of the Ramses in Egypt. It was the complete opposite of their experience as slaves in Egypt.
An Act of Stewardship:
2 Corinthians 8:7: “Just as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
The LORD has called Bezaleel the son of Uri, and filled him with the spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all manner of workmanship. So, these talents and abilities were given to him by God in the craftsman to devise all of these fancy works, the work of gold and silver and brass, the cutting of the stones to set them, the carving of wood.
And he put it in his heart that he may teach, both he and Aholiab. Them that he has filled with the wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and the cunning workman, to do the embroidery, in blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
I really appreciate all of you who had taken pain to organise the fest, eatables, sports and games, announcing the events. Very meticulously the Lay activities and finance committees worked. Organisations volunteered to arrange as well as to make the evening fun filled. Certain individuals are working day and night. This is an act of stewardship.
Generous heart (Exodus 35:5). Skilful among you shall come and make (Exodus 35:10). Bezalel and Oholiab were spirit filled skilful leaders (Exodus 35:30-36:1). Give as you can afford to give (Leviticus 14:30). According to their ability, they gave to the Lord (Ezra 2:69, Nehemiah 5:8).
They did what the the lord commanded them to do. (Exodus 36:2, 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31), and Exodus 40:16-33 says Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, several times it’s mentioned that Moses did everything as the Lord commanded them.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:3 about the giving of the churches of Macedonia, “For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord.”
Exodus 35:5-9 mentions one by one all the materials that would be required. In addition, everyone brought whatever gold he had set apart as a wave offering (a sacrificial gift) for Jehovah. No one can be stingy or make excuses for financial support.
Christian conversion is conversion of heart. And the evidence of it is not just new decisions, but new affections, new feelings. (John Piper).
All brought willingly whatever was with them. They utilized their ability. It teaches us to be faithful with our treasures and our talents. Without a willing mind, costly offerings and services to the Lord are useless and abhorred (Matthew Henry).
King David said, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.” (1 Chronicles 29:14 AMP).
God’s mission moves forward in this world to the degree that God’s people are faithful with their money. Money and mission are inseparable. You and me are part of mission, as long as we live on the earth, as born again believers we can’t be separated, be it prosperity or be it poverty, be it appreciation or be it persecution.
Conclusion:
Giving is part of worship. We cannot separate it. The exodus community and the and the post exilic communities emphasised and practiced. The early Christian observed week after week. So today we do. God bless you.
