Our giving can feel empty sometimes, can’t it? Perhaps it’s because we have been wounded by frenzied sermons on giving or the pulsing belief that if we’re not giving everything, we’re disobeying the demand of a greedy God. Giving can feel like a form of karma; we cross our fingers and hope as we give that it will be given back to us in equal or greater measure. Or it can feel like checking a box, doing our duty as Christians. Or perhaps, we withhold giving to the Lord because we don’t trust Him with our finances, our security, or our portion.
I have been to all those places. There have been years of my life when I was living paycheck to paycheck, barely scraping by, certain I couldn’t afford to give anything to the Lord. And then other years of my life when I was indifferent to the needs of others. But then, nearly a decade ago, when my check-the-box giving had dwindled to nothing, and my indifference had grown to an insurmountable level, God began to teach me that there was something He wanted far, far more than my money; He wanted my heart and my spirit.
In this passage we see the detailed list of what the people of God brought to help build and adorn the tabernacle. Moses is attentive in his communication of what God desired and also what the people gave. This is saying something about God: He cares about the details of our lives, what we can give and what He created us to give. No two gifts are exactly alike. It is as if Moses is saying: your gift matters because you matter to God. He cares about the knitting of your heart and the crafting of your hands, the things you make and the livelihood He’s given you. And because we can know He cares about these things, our hearts are moved by that love and, in obedience to the Spirit inside of us, we can freely give.
There’s nothing obligatory or forced about this kind of offering. God alone can move in our heart and prompt our spirit to bring what we have as an offering to Him (Exodus 35:21). We give because He first gave to us. It is not—as some angry preachers shout from lofted pulpits—because we owe God everything, but simply because everything we have is owned already by God. Offering all we have to the Lord is only possible because He already gave everything to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
What is in your hands today? How has God uniquely crafted you, knit you together, formed you, and made you? What stirs your heart and your affections for Him? For the Church? For your brothers and sisters? What moves your heart toward God? Give Him the gifts of your heart, your passion, your provision. That’s what He’s asking for: the gift of your delight and cheerful giving.
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34 thoughts on "Offerings to Build the Tabernacle"
Bringing myself to you today, Abba.
We must give until the Lord hallelujah!
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P.S. I just come back quickly to share a lovely and surprising movie night experience I had with my little ones last night. We stumbled on a movie called “Winn-Dixie” on Disney plus. It left me awestruck to my core because of the deep subliminal messages. It reminds me of the time when life used to be slower, when prayers were said in movies (now banned in some schools even), when the humble side of real people were captured in its depth and authenticity. If you’re looking for a movie to watch this weekend, find Winn-Dixie. I highly recommend it. Be blessed dear sisters.
The blue print God provides to make His temple and intricate decoration requires expertised craftmanship. I wonder if that’s the same for buildings and structures in Heaven which one day we shall see, how magnificent and intricate they must be, on earth as in Heaven. And the Lord provides the skills, wisdom, patience necessary for the tasks at hand for weavers, builders, embroiderers, etc. to do this God ordained task( He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship- Exodus 35:31), to those that devise cunning work (Exodus 35:35). Just amazing how the Bible says all the wise hearted women did spin with their hands. Wise hearted people work for God. I pray that I would be a wise hearted woman that do things for God, while recognizing that my professional trained skill sets and personal little talents are from Him, by Him, and to be for Him. That’s a sacrifice. Another verse that caught my attention was, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice” Romans 12:1. There used to be burnt offerings back then, think of a bbq goat, hmm delicious (I love grilled goat), to give away to God. That’s a sacrifice right? But a living one, now imagine yourself, how do you feel? we are called to be sacrifices. Ouch. Sacrifice means to die, means it must hurt. A great teacher used to tell me, if you give to God some offering, and that amount doesn’t hurt you yet, it is not a sacrifice. I ponder, that’s true, as people tend to give within a comfortable margin. But to sacrifice it’s another level, to give without reservation hurts. This is even more difficult when God calls us to sacrifice (not just money), us to live but yet willing to die (die to pride, to self edifying conflicts, to persecution without retaliation, to wrong accusations and not a word, to eye rolling judgment or insensitivity of others). Lord, may we have your grace to be willing enough to say yes as living sacrifice. It is a high calling that only by your power, we might stand a chance. Apart from the Vine, we can do nothing, even to sacrifice ourselves that we might take it back again (Matthew 16:25). I hope everyone will have a nice weekend. Be blessed dear sisters.
Today’s readings made me think of the hymn, Here Am I Lord”. At the end of each mission trp I’ve gone on we have sang that on our last night. It usually brings all to tears as we think about how we served the Lord. A question for me today as I think on the hymns following words,”Is it I Lord, I have heard you calling in the night”. How many times was I not listening or didn’t like the call? The yesses have been blessings. May my ears here and my lips say yes, may my work bring glory and honor to my Father.
When I try to reply to specific people it never seems to work?! I’m sure it’s me!!
Yes! For the 4th time!!
“We give because He first gave to us.” That says it ALL!!! The main thing He gave us is His One and Only Son, who died on the cross for OUR SINS. Moses had to collect the offerings for the people to ask for forgiveness, whereas now all we have to do is pray and ask God. Why? Because CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US, for our SINS, for us to have ATONEMENT.
Thank You Lord for sending Your Son to die for us and wipe away our sins. We praise Your name toady and ALWAYS, AMEN.
Sisters, be blessed and PRAISE God for send Christ to die for us.
I couldn’t help but think of all the preparation that went into this place of meeting, the sheer amount of precious resources and craftmanship – all for a temporary dwelling, a place for God to be amongst them, even if it had lots of rules and parameters.
Fast forward to now, after Jesus came and fulfilled the law, and became the ultimate atonement and High Priest for any who are willing to follow the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE! And now where is the temple, the place where God comes to be among us? Isn’t it in ME?
All that I am, the sinew and tissue I am knitted together with, the gifts He placed in me. All the beautiful materials and skills they brought don’t compare to the body, mind and soul He uses in me now, after being redeemed by THE LAMB who takes away the sins of the world. Am I willing to lay my “temple” down in service to Him?
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and now made new in Him to receive life abundantly, and be washed white as snow, so that His Spirit can dwell in me, and shine forth. A holy calling to lay one’s life down in sacrifice. Humbling. Lord, I pray I always live with open, lifted hands, eager to be of service. And may You be glorified in all that my hands find to do, the thoughts I think, and the worship my spirit is prompted, and willing to give You!
Ashleigh H – I turned to today’s page and had a note written that your embryo transfer is today. Prayers lifted up that this results in the pregnancy you so desire. ❤️
The pairing of Jesus’s words in John was a perfect selection to highlight the ultimate freewill offering. “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.”- John 10:17. Beautiful.
In today’s reading, it really stuck out to me that the Israelites gave out of a willingness to do so. The Bible does not say that they gave out of force or guilt but only from a desire to worship the Lord. Thank you, God, for all that you bless us with. May we have a willing heart to be generous with our abilities, time, money, and belongings.
@Kelly (NEO)- thank you so much for remembering today. It was such joy to see it as I try to navigate the emotions that come on an IVF transfer day. Our appointment starts at 2 pm (CST) with the plan for the transfer to begin at 2:30 pm. Thank you all for prayers for today’s procedure along with the 10 day wait/implantation time that follows.
@TheBestIsYetToCome- I am praying for your court hearing. May love and truth win in the courtroom and may God grant you peace as well as wisdom as you enter there. My younger sister is a foster mom and also has an important court day the very next day from yours. She and her husband hope to adopt my sweet little foster nephew.
I think what I love most about this post is that this was after the incident of the golden calf; God still invites them in to be a part of his tabernacle. The people, even after their big sin, willingly participate. I love this whole thing and it is just wonderful to me- no matter what you have done, God can and still wants to use you for his greater purpose.
THEBESTISYETTOCOME-praying for your appointment today and that truth prevails!
Our precious Heavenly Father is so generous and giving! And it delights His heart when we, His children, reflect His generosity as well! It’s like when my sons were very young and I used to give them a few coins to put into the offering basket so they could experience the joy of giving. Every good and perfect gift we have is from our Father above (James 1:17) – we are not owners of it, we are stewards of it – and God gives us gifts, talents, money, time, etc. – not to hoard for ourselves, but so we can learn the great delight and joy of giving to others! We don’t HAVE to give, we GET to give! Giving can be draining when it is out of compulsion or obligation, or when it is not Christ-centered and lead. But a free-will offering from our hearts out of love for Jesus is so beautiful to us and to the Lord! Jesus willingly laid down His life for us – the supreme example of a free-will offering of love!!! What could motivate us more to give than that!!!?
I was listening to a podcast recently with Christine Caine about Elijah and the widow to whom he was called to seek out and ask her to use the remaining oil/flour she had to make him bread… and as the story goes, God so blessed her sacrifice that He continued to refill the jar for her use… (If you’re interested in listening, it was titled “What seems unlikely to you is highly likely to God”… was extremely powerful).
I was reminded, God doesn’t ask me to make what I have big and grand and then use it for His Kingdom- He asks me to bring the smallest of small so HE can make it grand and purposeful. I so often look for where I have excess- money, clothing, food, time… and THEN I have “willingness” to give out of the excess. But He’s asking if we’re willing to have the faith it takes to give from our perceived area of “less than” and trust He is trustworthy to have it- and that He will keep His promise to ALWAYS supply what we NEED in the moment we need it.
He doesn’t ask us to make our giving big- He asks us to make it available.
I would like to point out that it only were the Israelites WILLING but they acted -“let everyone who is willing BRING” “all who had willing hearts BROUGHT” “women whose hearts were moved SPUN”. Lord help me to not only be willing but to also take action!!! Thank you God for your blessings! Amen!
The beauty of this offering is that it pours all the Egyptian plunder into worshiping the Lord and greatly dwindles the chance of another golden calf experience in the wilderness. God doesn’t waste things does he?
I’m glad I could not relate to the author this morning whose experience was pastors shaming and demanding money. Since becoming a believer in Christ, God has shown me that all I am and have are His. Tithing and giving, no matter what stage has been a privilege to me ( us).
What struck me in todays readings was that it was not required, let everyone whose heart is willing and then we read of all who were willing, whose spirit prompted him/ her. Everyday we have that opportunity as Romans 12 reminds us, in view of God’s mercies, we daily present ourselves as living sacrifices. Holy, pleasing to God. This is my true worship. The question for me is am I willing? Is my heart moved. Am I listening? Good thoughts to begin today.
Would you all pray for me? I am a foster mom and the biggest most important court hearing thus far is Thurs, Aug 18th 10am EST. Pls pray for favor and courage for the truth speakers!! I am terrified and praying for God to fight for my little guy!!
I have a new watch, a thing to tell me the time and date. But the motivation for this particular watch was the daily reminder to get up early, take care of my body, to get after it with discipline before the enemy gets after me. This is my battle plan. For me, this is Romans 12:1-2. I train in the spirit with God’s Word first, and I train my body with proper nutrition and exercise. These disciplines have brought me freedom. And as Romans 12 begins, this is true worship because I do it willfully in response to the mercies of God (v. 1). I resist being conformed to this age as God transforms my mind with His Spirit and He helps me to discern what is in line with His will and goodness (v. 2). There is such purpose in what God creates. He made me for a good purpose. His creations are beautiful and He gave us eyes to behold and hearts to respond in adoration and worship of Him. All beauty points to Him. Our lives should be lived in holy and pleasing sacrifice to Him. This looks like loyal love, forgiveness, mercy, honesty, discipline, and self control. And it also looks like repentance when we fail, because we do. He knows. This is the why for Jesus. This is the beautiful protection and salvation that doesn’t ask for our perfection. He only needs our hearts. He wants my heart. My love. My dependence on Him. And when I give my heart and life to Him, He gives me all the hope I need. I have an escape from this world, and comfort while I am still here. To be fully known and still loved is the greatest gift on earth. He gives me supernatural motivation and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Selah. Maranatha. Amen.
So many good comments and insights this week, sisters – thank you!
What grabbed me today was the mentioning several times in our Scripture readings – everyone whose heart was stirred, and whose spirit was willing.
Is my heart stirred, and is my spirit willing – today? Tomorrow? Next week?
GWINETH52 – thank you for the daily reflection – I need to add that to what I’m already praying.
HEIDI – glad to hear things are better with your daughter. I have family members that age and a few years older who are having a tough time again this year. Praying for them in many ways as they do not know the Lord. Kids can be downright mean for reasons I can’t understand. I look back on my elementary, junior high (it was many years ago) and high school years and remember so much bullying that I was the focus of – before bullying was recognized as a thing. Today’s bullying is much more subtle, which I think makes it much more dangerous. Praying for all kids this year to rise above it.
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I think it’s our willingness to freely give that God seeks for us. But it is the example that Jesus gives to us. To freely give of ourselves.
To remember that none of what I have is really mine can be tricky. Does God want me to cherish it and enjoy it? Absolutely. But to take it for granted? No. We try to frequently speak of how lucky we are to have food in the fridge or the ability to go to the store and get what we need. I feel like a large way we can give back to God is also through more than giving directly to the church, but sacrificing our monetary possession by spending it on those in need or contributing to a cause we feel called to believe in. God will lead us in the way of how our finances are to be used and that has brought so much peace.
Even before reading today’s SRT devotion, I meditated on the words “willing”, “prompted”, “moved”. These are transitive verbs. This means that although the people of Israel were the active participants in giving, they were not the cause of the giving. The Lord’s Spirit moved the people’s spirits, hearts, and wills so that they were not only willing to give, but also actually gave.
I think it is important to remember that we can never force another person to give. I believe we should make our need known and then pray that God moves the spirits, hearts, and wills of people so that they are willing to offer whatever is needed to the Lord. After all, every single thing we have (life, salvation, material things, money) is the Lord’s. We are merely using and borrowing what He has given us to use. We are merely to be good stewards of the resources He has given us. How can I best use what God has given me to glorify Him and advance His kingdom?
Amen
Amen: we can bring an offering, trusting that is a seed being planted for the kingdom.
‘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.’ 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
ESV
May God help us to give willingly, share our time and money willingly, use our energy to serve willingly, and share our homes through hospitality, willingly. A willing offering from the heart.
What is in my hand today? Nothing but what the Lord has provided. It seems silly sometimes to think of what I give Him as a “sacrifice” as though I had any part in it coming to me. Yet this us what He asks of me: Hold loosely all He gives me for it is not for me but for the benifit of others.
ASHLEIGH H – praying for your implant today. May the Lord give you His peace as you wait the outcome.
DOROTHY – glad things with Carol seem to be moving in the right direction. Praying for Danaile and Andrew’s IVF appt. to go well.