Exodus 36:3-6 (ESV) – And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, ⁴ so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.”⁶ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing,

A friend of ours took me and Kaleb up in his plane. He even let Kaleb fly the plane. When Kaleb moved the wheel, we moved. It got real. I’m not a negative person or a pessimist—I am the eternal optimist—but this thought crossed my mind: what happens if Kim dies of a heart attack right now? We would have been finished. I’ve watched TV pilots pull the handles toward them, but I have no idea what that does. You see, my life was completely in my friend’s hands when we were flying in his airplane. I climbed into the plane because I trusted his knowledge about how to fly it. But I had no idea how it worked. I exercised faith that he did. 

We count on so many things in our lives to just simply work. We don’t understand how they work, but we rely upon them. We trust our lives to some of these things. When it comes to Jesus' Kingdom and mission, and in more particular detail, His church, many have no idea how it works. Everyone just assumes it will. Think about it. Many folks attend church for a long time but never know how it works. But the truth is: God uses earthly resources to build His heavenly kingdom. 

Notice in our passage how the resources given by the people were the means for the work that was done. In fact, our passage shows they brought so much in that there was plenty to do what was needed. The more money Christians are able to give to their churches and other ministries the more the kingdom advances. It equals more opportunities for spreading the gospel, discipling believers, helping the poor, and changing lives.

Are you generous to the work of God? Do you see your work and labor to earn money as simply for yourself, or do you recognize that contributions to the work of the ministry are a responsibility for all believers? Make your contribution count.

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Reflection & Journal:
- Why is giving money so hard for many people?
- What does this passage show us about how giving helps fuel ministry and work for the kingdom?
- How do you approach financial giving? Are you consistent, sacrificial, and cheerful?

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