Exodus 36 contains one of my favorite passages in all the Bible: "They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more."
Let's imagine that in a modern context. The church is having a building program to raise support for a new facility to house all those who God has brought to worship together. Imagine the elders announcing, "You've got to stop giving! We have enough to buy the land, build the facility, furnish the facility, and provide the resources for everything we do...and then some! Enough! Please stop giving!"
Now recall that this was a "freewill offering" - an offering that each one gave as the Spirit of the Lord moved them to give. As the old preacher once said, "The good news is that God has provided 100% of what we need to do what He's called us to do financially....the bad news is that most of it is still in your wallet."
I love that it was each craftsman who came; God didn't just move the people to bring abundant red, blue, and purple thread, but not enough gold. Or plenty of silver but not enough acacia wood. In each and every need, God supplied through His people more than was necessary to do what He had called them to do.
God never calls us to do something that He doesn't also equip us to do it, whether it is building a tabernacle or writing a book or raising a family or serving on mission in a foreign land. And when He provides, He provides in abundance.
Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Let's imagine that in a modern context. The church is having a building program to raise support for a new facility to house all those who God has brought to worship together. Imagine the elders announcing, "You've got to stop giving! We have enough to buy the land, build the facility, furnish the facility, and provide the resources for everything we do...and then some! Enough! Please stop giving!"
Now recall that this was a "freewill offering" - an offering that each one gave as the Spirit of the Lord moved them to give. As the old preacher once said, "The good news is that God has provided 100% of what we need to do what He's called us to do financially....the bad news is that most of it is still in your wallet."
I love that it was each craftsman who came; God didn't just move the people to bring abundant red, blue, and purple thread, but not enough gold. Or plenty of silver but not enough acacia wood. In each and every need, God supplied through His people more than was necessary to do what He had called them to do.
God never calls us to do something that He doesn't also equip us to do it, whether it is building a tabernacle or writing a book or raising a family or serving on mission in a foreign land. And when He provides, He provides in abundance.
Philippians 4:19 "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
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