It has been said that you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Reading through the building of the tabernacle in Exodus I’m struck by the repetition of a few things… namely, willingness.

I’m talking about God’s people building God’s church. Whether it’s Mainly Music, the Base, Kidzchurch, Bread Ministry, being on the sound team for the Worship ministry… there are so many ways to build.

So what do we learn from Exodus 35 and 36 in relation to this?

“From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who iswilling is to bring to the Lord an offering… and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work… every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work …so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.” (Exodus 35:5a, 21, 36:2a,6c-7)

From what you have… God’s not asking you to give something you don’t have – He gives the ability. But it is ability plus willingness that leads to more than enough. There were so many willing to build that it led to an announcement saying ‘no more, we have too much…’ When everyone plays their part and brings what little they have, it leads us to a place of abundance, a place of multiplication, a place of blessing. You have been blessed (whether with time, ears to listen, technology skills to utilise, energy to invest, or even money) to be a blessing. From what you have, bring it willingly.

One of the key things, is that the people allowed their hearts to be moved. Our willingness will only increase when we see the need and the people behind these ministries that we’re running. We need to start praying some dangerous prayers. We need to start asking God to move our hearts for what moves His – people. And then we need to be willing to step in the gap and do our part.

There was an old comic strip with two men. One of them says to the other that he has a question for God. He wants to know why God allows all the poverty and suffering in the world. He replies, “I’m scared God will ask me the same question.”