Giving Freely and Abundantly out of Love - Exodus 36-38 and Matthew 23:1-22
Exodus 36-38 presents an amazing picture of the building of the Tabernacle. It is so amazing because there was no begging for money, but there was no lack of resources for the task. In fact, there was more than enough of everything that was needed. There was so much given freely by the people that the command had to go out to stop giving. There was "too much" given. Have you ever seen such a thing in your lifetime? It doesn't happen very often, but it does happen when people give freely out of a heart of love for the Lord. I believe this great outpouring for the Tabernacle was a sign that the people had truly repented of their sins, and they were ready to love the Lord. I say that because they did not have to be coerced to give. They gave freely of themselves and their possessions. What a glorious picture, especially when we read the summary of their gifts in chapter 38.
Contrast that giving with the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Jesus told the people to do what the Pharisees said, but not what they did, because they did not practice what they preached. They did not have a heart of love. They were fulfilling a duty. They were doing the least they could for the Lord, and what they did was for show. They did not give freely or out of love. They gave in public to receive applause of men. They were hypocrites. They were trying to put on a good show for people. It was all about what people would think, not what would please God. I pray that this would cause all of us to look at why we do what we do. I pray that we would realize that God only accepts what is given freely out of love. I hope we will see that when we give that way, we will give abundantly of ourselves and our resources, because that is how love works. Anything else is not worthy of Jesus who loved us so much that He gave His life for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 39-40 and Matthew 23:23-39.
Contrast that giving with the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Jesus told the people to do what the Pharisees said, but not what they did, because they did not practice what they preached. They did not have a heart of love. They were fulfilling a duty. They were doing the least they could for the Lord, and what they did was for show. They did not give freely or out of love. They gave in public to receive applause of men. They were hypocrites. They were trying to put on a good show for people. It was all about what people would think, not what would please God. I pray that this would cause all of us to look at why we do what we do. I pray that we would realize that God only accepts what is given freely out of love. I hope we will see that when we give that way, we will give abundantly of ourselves and our resources, because that is how love works. Anything else is not worthy of Jesus who loved us so much that He gave His life for us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 39-40 and Matthew 23:23-39.