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Exodus 36:5

5and said to Moses, "The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do."


God gave Moses a detailed description of all that would go into making the tabernacle for worship. The people whose hearts moved them to give were to bring a freewill offering of the different materials that would be needed. Much of the material was "borrowed" from the Egyptians when they left Egypt, so they were really giving back to God what they had recently been given (Exodus 12:36). It was their wages for their years of labor.

Through much of their wilderness wandering they showed themselves to be a hard-hearted people, but in this offering they show their better side. They gave so much that the workmen asked Moses to tell them to stop bringing materials. They were generous with their newly-acquired wealth.

Generosity comes from a heart that is stirred by the LORD. A heart that knows God is the great provider and can be free to give without concern for future needs. They experience the joy of giving. Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). That is so contrary to our natural self. All giving is really just passing on what we have received (1 Corinthians 4:7). We are caretakers of goods for our short time here on earth. God gives things to us to meet our needs but also for the needs of others that we might experience His joy of giving and be blessed in the process.

Consider: Have you found that your needs are met by God so that you can freely give when your heart is moved by a need? Have you experienced the blessing of giving? Do you see a need today that God has given you the resources to meet?