Exodus 35:4, 5b,10, 20-22, 26, 29; 36:2b, 5-7
4-Moses said to the whole Israelite community, "This is what the LORD has commanded:
5b-Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering...
10- "All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded:
20-22 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence,
and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him 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...
26- And all the women who were willing
29- All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings...
36:2b- every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work
5-7- "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp:
"No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the
sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
Dear Lord,
As I read these chapters, I am reminded of stats that Pastor Carl told us. In the church 20% of the people do 80% of the work; 50% do the rest of the 20% and the rest do nothing.
When Moses told God's command to ALL of the Isrealites who had experienced the goodness of God and had not been eliminated by sword or plague. And yet, throughout these versed I read "who were willing". Obviously this means that some were still not willing. It never said that some were not able. Even so, there was more than was needed and they had to be asked to stop giving.
Lord, You never force Your will on anyone because You are looking for willing hearts. There have been so many times when our pastor has told of a need for help in some area: children's ministry, parking lot attendants, nursery workers, help with painting and construction etc. for the Living Cross...how many of us are really willing to sacrifice our time, talent, or treasures to Your work? Lord, I know I have failed myself and beg Your forgiveness. We all can come up with all kinds of excuses as to why we can't or won't. Lord, I see that it is a matter of the heart. Give me a willing heart, Lord!
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