Saturday 13 August 2005

Stop giving!

“And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.” - Exodus 36v6

As God renewed the covenant with Israel He did a work in their hearts. We read that he gave them willing hearts, wise hearts, knowledgeable hearts, skilful hearts, stirred up hearts,

It was obvious when that they had a heart a change when God asked for the work to be done and asked for offerings. When the time came everyone came to do the work at which they were skilled. Their hearts were in the work, and their hearts were in their giving. Exodus 36v5 says, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.”

“The people bring much more than enough for the work that needs to be done!” Can we even imagine that being said today? So much work was done and so much money was given that Moses had to tell the commanders of the people. “Don’t bring any more, stop giving folks, stop working!” The people had to be restrained from giving.

What was the key here? The people had a change of heart. When their hearts were changed they gave willingly, abundantly, and cheerfully. What would happen to God’s work today if His people had a truly changed heart in regard to giving? What if they changed heart resulted in giving which was willing, abundant, and cheerful. Our churches would have no needs, buildings were be paid for and missionaries would be supported.

God changes our hearts today through prayer, the reading of His word, and the work of the Holy Spirit. May we allow our changed hearts to make us the kind of givers that trhe people of Israel were.

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