Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
God’s Pattern and Our Best
Each of us has but one life, and I believe most thinking people want their life to count for something long after they are gone. Exodus 25 is the story of a people who gathered their resources according to God’s plan, and then God created something through their giving that was magnificent. We are talking about the tabernacle that traveled with the children of Israel through the wilderness.
The tabernacle was to be constructed in two ways. The first was by the offerings willingly given by the people. In verse 2 God said to Moses, “Bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” This magnificent creation was the result of people who willingly gave. Have you ever been given service where the people giving it seemed to resent it? They didn’t care about you or care to be giving what they were giving. Our life shouldn’t be that way. We should be giving of ourselves willingly to God.
The tabernacle was also to be constructed by God’s pattern. Verse 9 says, “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” God chose the pattern and the people of Israel chose whether or not to be a part of it.
Like the building of the tabernacle, the best and most beautiful creations of life happen when God has given us His pattern and we give Him our best. Everything you have in life to give is something that God has given to you first. Whether you give it or not is your choice. Whether your contribution is significant or not depends on whether or not you give according to God’s pattern.