If you have ever been involved in a building project, let’s say, at your home church, then you have probably discovered Exodus 36. If you have not, I don’t know where you have been all these years and we will give you a gift today because this is one of those passages that just seems to be prevalent when there is a building project in the church and you are raising money for a parking lot, a Sunday School wing, or some other such thing. What should characterize the kind of giving God’s people should be involved in?
Well, in Exodus 36 as Moses is contemplating the construction and completion of the tabernacle, the Bible says that the people who had willing hearts brought the things that were necessary for the building of the tabernacle, silver, gold, and so on. The Bible says in verse 7, “For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” In fact, before this the Bible says, “The people were restrained from bringing.” They were bringing so much that it was more than they could use. Moses had to say, “Hey, stop bringing all these gifts. We already have all that we need.” Can you image a building project where you had to restrain people from giving? They were giving so much that the pastor had to get up and say, “This is too much. We have got to stop this giving business.”
You know, you look at Exodus 36 and it seems like a passage to really hammer home. Let me ask you, “What characterizes the right kind of giving? What should characterize giving?” Well, we often think that generosity, abundance, or some other qualifier should characterize giving when we think about the kind of giving that God’s people should do.
But, let me refer you back to Exodus 3:21, “And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.” Basically, Egypt was thrilled when Israel finally left. God had prepared them in such a way through so many scourges and plagues that they said, “Please go, and here is some silver and gold. Just take it and get out of here.” So, who provided the silver and gold from which the tabernacle is constructed? God did. The children of Israel had nothing. They were in the middle of the wilderness. God gave them favor and valuables.
In Psalm 105:37, which is God’s commentary on what happened, it says, “He [God] brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them [Egypt].” So, you find the same thing again, God is the one who gave that.
Second Corinthians 8, referring to people who were great givers, says that “in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” They were rich in generosity but poor in money, and it worked out just fine. In II Corinthians 9:7 it famously says, “For God loveth a cheerful giver.” Why does God love a cheerful giver. He loves a cheerful giver because God is the cheerful giver. If you look at II Corinthians 9 it really is all about God’s giving. Thanks is given to God and God “ministereth seed to the sower” and “bread for your food.” So, we have nothing to give that God did not give us first.
Who gave the skills by which the tabernacle was constructed? God gave those. He gave Bezaleel and others wisdom. They didn’t just make it up. God gave it to them. Who gave these people the materials that were used? God did. Who gave the pattern? God gave the pattern for the tabernacle. Who came up with the design? The answer is God. God gave everything from first to last. Israel was not giving anything to God that God did not give them first, So, there is a sense in which while generosity may be admirable, you are never going to be generous with God because anything and everything, including the breath you breathe, comes from God to begin with. So, I am all for generosity, but generosity is not the ethic of cheerful giving, honesty is.
Why do I give cheerfully? It is not simply because I am generous. That is not the reason. I give cheerfully when I realize that everything I have has been given by God. I cannot be generous with the God who gives everything, but I can be honest. I can say, “God, this is not my money, my talent, my air, or my life. God, I give it to You and You will give through me.” The Bible says they had more than enough. Anytime a people will come to God with honesty, realizing all they have is of God and they will give it to Him and let Him give through them, it is more than enough to complete any project.
Are you a cheerful giver today? You don’t become a cheerful giver by somehow pulling yourself up by the bootstraps and feeling more generous. No, you become a cheerful giver when you honestly realize that God is the great Giver.