Giving Achieves Something

I was struck today when reading Exodus chapter 35 when the Lord said: "'Take from among you an offering to the LORD, whoever is of a willing heart" and then continued to list all the raw materials needed to build the Tabernacle. Later in the chapter, it records their response, “Come, all of you who are gifted craftsmen. Construct everything that the LORD has commanded:" If the Israelites had not been obedient, the Tabernacle wouldn't have been finished and wouldn't have achieved its purpose as a place where God meets His people. 

As Believers today, we are called to give our time, energy, and finances to extend His Kingdom and do the work we have been given. The same point applies here: if we are disobedient and fail to deliver as we should, we can thwart the growth of the Kingdom and dishonour God. 

So let's be about constructing all that the Lord has commanded and giving Him all the glory so that His Kingdom will come here on earth as in heaven. 

And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 'Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: Exodus 35:4-10