Giving So Much They Had To Be Restrained
From The HeartPublish date: 08/26/2007
Giving So Much They Had To Be RestrainedFoundation Scriptures: Exodus 36 verses 1 - 7
Bezalel and Aholiab and every wisehearted man in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab and every able and wisehearted man in whose mind the Lord had put wisdom and ability, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work; 3 And they received from Moses all the freewill offerings which the Israelites had brought for doing the work of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. And they continued to bring him freewill offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise and able men who were doing the work on the sanctuary came, every man from the work he was doing, 5 And they said to Moses, The people bring much more than enough for doing the work which the Lord commanded to do. 6 So Moses commanded and it was proclaimed in all the camp, Let no man or woman do anything more for the sanctuary offering. So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more. Exodus 36:1-7 AMP
1. People were stirred to come and give their best and those who were wise and skilled in their work were stirred to sow to the Lord by working with their hands to build the tabernacle.
a. They were stirred so much so that they brought the Lord free will offerings every morning and every night.
b. The people brought, and brought, and brought—so much that they needed to be restrained.
c. There was sufficient all around. There was enough for the tabernacle and the people still had much left over.
2. God asked only for those who were willing and generous to bring stuff for the sanctuary. Can you imagine their excitement; can you imagine their joy? There was no hesitation; no regrets; no doubts; no second thoughts. They came to the Lord with willing and generous hearts and with a continual flow of offerings.
a. They gave every day—in the morning and in the night.
b. When enough had been given for the sanctuary, they had to be restrained from bringing anything else. Most people have to be begged to give—these people were begged to stop!
c. Sufficient means: enough for a particular purpose. Verse 7 says that the STUFF they had was sufficient for ALL the work—not just sufficient, but more than enough—to make whatever was needed.
N. B. What a day that will be when we see God's people willingly and generously bringing to the Lord, so much, that they need to be restrained.
Pastor Adonica's Thoughts:
If anyone would want to stop the building of the Kingdom of God or His sanctuary, it would be the devil. The devil always tries to ply us with fear about parting with what we have and to supply us plenty of reasons why not to give to God's work. He knows that money gives power on earth and he does not want the church to have the power to expand or extend God's Kingdom on earth. Don't be fooled by him; don't play into his hands. What we must do is move in the opposite spirit. We must confront our fears and see God's call to give for what it is: an opportunity, to bless God, bless the work of God and to receive a great blessing in return. It is not merely your action of giving that matters, but your attitude in giving. Stepping out in faith to give generously and willingly breaks a spirit of poverty and poverty-mindedness off your life.
Pastor Rodney's Thoughts:
Putting God first place in our life means that we give His House and His Kingdom top priority. Can you imagine a day, in the 21st century, when God's people would take His Kingdom and His purpose and make it theirs? Malachi says that each man runs to his own house—eager to build it—and to his own plans. But God says, "seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). We started building our first house back in 1993, and moved in 1994. When the foundation was laid, I stood on it and lifted up my hands, thanking the Lord for our house, when I heard the Lord say, "Son you have built my house for the past 14 years and now I am going to build yours!" God so blessed us with that house and provided everything we needed for the house including all the furniture. It was exceedingly above all that we could have done on our own. When God builds something, He does it well!
Prayer and Confession:
Father, I put your house first; I make your priorities my priorities. I am a willing and generous giver. I pray that I come to the place where I am so blessed that I am able to give so much that I have to be restrained in my giving because it is more than enough for what needs to be done to build God's Kingdom. Thank you, Lord, for all your abundant blessings bestowed on me!