On January 26th, the daily reading was Exodus 35:1 – 40:38. This is a detailed description of the furnishings for the Tabernacle, and the process of making them. Think of the costly preparations.
Lots of gold, silver, and bronze went into the furnishings. There was hammered gold overlay for the altar, the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, and other items. They needed lots of silver for the footings for the posts that held up the many curtains that formed the walls and dividers of the Tabernacle. The plans called for precious stones, metals, and for the many curtains, the choicest fibers. It was a huge undertaking, and in a word, expensive.
The text comments twice on the generosity of the people. First, in Exodus 35:5; “Take from among you an offering to the LORD; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the LORD's offering: gold, silver, and bronze;”
This is followed by a long list of the varied precious materials brought as offerings by those of a ‘generous heart.’ Later on this same notion is amplified in 36:5-7 where we find literary bookends about generosity. “…The people are bringing much more than enough… …So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.”
Our congregation is in the quiet phase of a capital campaign, with the more vocal, public phase coming this spring. The witness of this text is that God moves people to be generous when it comes to providing for worship needs. I believe this has always been true. But the work of the Holy Spirit may not be as mysterious as we sometimes want to believe. Moses' pepole had to ask themselves if they could part with their own gold earrings, silver serving vessels, necklaces, and other well-wrought household ornaments. There were no banks, so precious stones and jewelry were one way of storing wealth. Would they part with some of it for the sake of worship?
They had to decide to let go of something of value, giving it over to God’s use. The account says Moses received more than enough for the tasks.
This blog entry may seem like a blatant play for cash in the upcoming campaign. I hope you see it as I intend it. There always exists a biblical challenge to respond to a call, a challenge that brings each of us face to face with a question; what value we place on keeping and providing for today’s ‘Tabernacle’ our church. Will you make sure the needs are well supplied? Will you leave it to others? Will you discover you have a generous heart?
Jesus famously said “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It means the money decision comes first and the heart follows. It is a weirdly liberating Word that says we have a choice, and in choosing, can shape our own hearts; point them toward what is eternally important.
Some assembly is required.
(For a note on what this last phrase might mean, look in the “about” section, reached via the link above.)
Lots of gold, silver, and bronze went into the furnishings. There was hammered gold overlay for the altar, the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat, and other items. They needed lots of silver for the footings for the posts that held up the many curtains that formed the walls and dividers of the Tabernacle. The plans called for precious stones, metals, and for the many curtains, the choicest fibers. It was a huge undertaking, and in a word, expensive.
The text comments twice on the generosity of the people. First, in Exodus 35:5; “Take from among you an offering to the LORD; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the LORD's offering: gold, silver, and bronze;”
This is followed by a long list of the varied precious materials brought as offerings by those of a ‘generous heart.’ Later on this same notion is amplified in 36:5-7 where we find literary bookends about generosity. “…The people are bringing much more than enough… …So the people were restrained from bringing; for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.”
Our congregation is in the quiet phase of a capital campaign, with the more vocal, public phase coming this spring. The witness of this text is that God moves people to be generous when it comes to providing for worship needs. I believe this has always been true. But the work of the Holy Spirit may not be as mysterious as we sometimes want to believe. Moses' pepole had to ask themselves if they could part with their own gold earrings, silver serving vessels, necklaces, and other well-wrought household ornaments. There were no banks, so precious stones and jewelry were one way of storing wealth. Would they part with some of it for the sake of worship?
They had to decide to let go of something of value, giving it over to God’s use. The account says Moses received more than enough for the tasks.
This blog entry may seem like a blatant play for cash in the upcoming campaign. I hope you see it as I intend it. There always exists a biblical challenge to respond to a call, a challenge that brings each of us face to face with a question; what value we place on keeping and providing for today’s ‘Tabernacle’ our church. Will you make sure the needs are well supplied? Will you leave it to others? Will you discover you have a generous heart?
Jesus famously said “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It means the money decision comes first and the heart follows. It is a weirdly liberating Word that says we have a choice, and in choosing, can shape our own hearts; point them toward what is eternally important.
Some assembly is required.
(For a note on what this last phrase might mean, look in the “about” section, reached via the link above.)