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By Mike Caton

Exodus 35:20-29, “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.”

If you didn’t really read those verses, go back and look at them again. We see that everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them, brought these offerings to the Lord. And they brought all kinds of things to be given to the work of the tabernacle: gold jewelry, yarn, material, goat hides, other leather, wood, spices, oil and so forth. Those folks brought everything they had that the Lord needed for the tabernacle.

It might be naive to think everyone had everything. We know that everyone had different things and that some folks had more than others. But the point is, those who had it and were willing brought what they could to the Lord. It was a freewill offering, given to the Lord with no strings attached. Remember, 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” We also read about the women who could spin both the material and the goats’ hair. They not only gave their possessions, they gave of their talents and of themselves as well.

And we, too, need to be willing to give what we have and share what we can do for the kingdom of God. We all know it is all too easy to be selfish, both with our money, our time, and our talents. But we need to understand we are not building a temporary tent, and we are not building our kingdom, we are building the kingdom of God. We need to make sure we are giving our all to that.

Father, help me give generously to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works as a full time AEMT with Hyde County EMS. Follow Mount Olive Church of Christ on Facebook for daily devotions.

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