Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to HaShem. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that HaShem has commanded (35:4-19).
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. So they came, both men and women (35:21-22).
All the women whose hearts stirred them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair (35:26).
What I notice here is that both men and women brought the materials to make the tabernacle and all the items that God had commanded to be made. Everyone whose heart stirred them. The craftsman had ability from God. And whoever among the women wanted to, used their skill to spin the goats’ hair.
Everyone can participate with what we have. In the case of the Israelites, they had jewelry and fabric because they had asked of the Egyptians, and from this they gave generously to the Lord. Note that the Egyptians had given them these items because God had given His people favour with their Egyptian neighbours. In other words, God gave made sure they had what they would need to give for service to Him.
No one was too insignificant to contribute either material goods or spinning the goats’ hair. The craftsman were people gifted by God’s Spirit to create the beautiful items to be used in worshipping Him,
So it is today – every single person can participate in the kingdom of God. What is God asking of you? If you know, do it by looking to Him for the means to do it. If you don’t know, ask Him.
Serving God is not limited to the congregational setting. At one season in our life, Alan and most of our children went on Saturday evenings to worship practice – some were involved on the worship team, others in a dance ministry. I stayed home with the youngest children, and this was my service, my offering to God. As it says in Romans 12:1, God’s people are to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.” Whatever we do in obedience to God, if we’ve presented ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, is worship. My service, my worship, on those Saturday evenings was taking care of our young children. Alan’s and the older children’s offering was the abilities they had in music and dance. We all have what to offer – it starts with offering ourselves daily.
Worship to God can look like the obedience of a father working to provide for his family, or a single mother providing for hers. Or it can look like a student studying diligently to prepare for what God has called him or her to do. Or…?
Prayer: I am grateful, God, that there are so many ways to serve You. Continue to guide me in my service to You – may I have ears to hear how You want to lead me. Amen.
