TEXT: EXODUS 25:1-22
KEY VERSE: “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering” (EXODUS 25:2).
Hattie Wiatt, a little girl, came to a small Sunday school and asked to be taken in but it was explained there was no room for her. A short time later, Hattie became ill and died. At the funeral, her mother handed the Reverend a small purse – Hattie’s purse – and a scrap of paper on which was written, “To help build the little Temple bigger so that more children can go to Sunday school”. For two years she had saved her pennies for the cause which was nearest her heart. The pastor told the incident to his congregation and the people began making donations for the enlargement. Not long, Hattie’s fifty-seven cents had grown to be $250,000, and today in Philadelphia, can be seen a great church, the Baptist Temple, seating 3,300, a Temple College with accommodations for more than 1,400 students, a Temple Hospital and a large Temple Sunday school.
From the passage, God commanded Moses to take offerings from the children of Israel, not outsiders, towards the construction of the Tabernacle. And they were commanded to give willingly from their heart. If we understand that everything we possess belongs to God, it will be very easy to give. The precious stones needed for the priest’s ephod and the breastplates were found among the Israelites. Even though they were unsettled, the Lord deposited these items under the custody of the people for such a time like this.
Whatever you have now was given to you by God for a purpose. It will be important for us not to fail when our treasures are demanded to help in God’s work. The practice of soliciting for funds from unbelievers to build church auditoriums is totally unscriptural. Only the redeemed of the Lord should be involved in his work and their giving will receive God’s blessings.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Giving is part of our worship.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 9–10
