Reading
- Ex. 35:4-39:1
Devotional
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.
(Ex. 35:4-9)
GOD asked the children of Israel to give what they were willing as an offering. The people were very willing and ended up giving more than what was needed. In every way, GOD wants us to be like Him—to pattern our lives after His character. GOD wants us to have a willing spirit to give to those in need. He wants us to give because He gives! GOD needs nothing from us. As it is written,
Nor is [GOD] worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
(Acts 17:25)
Not only that, GOD also gave His Son Jesus to die for you and me, because of our sins.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)
GOD tells us a lot about giving and what our attitude should be towards giving to others.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
(Eph. 4:28)
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
(Matt. 25:34-36)
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Cor. 9:6-7)
