EXODUS 35
20 Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord. 23 And every one who possessed blue or purple or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or goatskins brought them. 24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord’s contribution. And everyone who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. 25 And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. 26 All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. 27 And the leaders brought onyx stones and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastpiece, 28 and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. – Exodus 35:20-29
EXODUS 35 FREEWILL OFFERING TO THE LORD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When your heart is stirred to offer what you have
Remember that it is the Lord that gave you that gift
When you give from your heart, you are mirroring God
Generosity is a work of the Spirit so you can praise the Lord.
This account shows us the work of the Spirit in the hearts of the people of God. On our own, we are selfish by nature. Only the Spirit can stir us to do otherwise. When we are given situations that remind us that we need to share or give something that we have, God’s Spirit whispers to our hearts that we are given an opportunity to praise our generous God. This is clearly the work of the Holy Spirit. We can never boast that it came from us. It all comes from the Lord who is a generous God.
REFLECTION
- Why is it important to listen and do as you are prodded by the Holy Spirit to give?
