SCRIPTURE: Exodus 35
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’ [Luke 21:5-6] The substance of the giver is more important than substance of the gift. It is not weightiness of the gift, but the willingness of the giver that God values.
God is not impressed by our gifts. The impressiveness of our church building does not catch His eye. In fact, when we get too absorbed in these things, He will knock them down. Even though He was the one that asked for the tabernacle to be built, it was not about the tabernacle! It was a symbol of His presence among His people: He in their hearts, and they in His!
In Exodus 35 we see an indication of their open hearts to God – their gifts were free will offerings! Why did they give their gifts? Were they trying to impress God? Were they trying to earn His forgiveness for messing up earlier with the golden calf? Did they figure they could manipulate God with their good behaviour? Or were they genuinely eager to honour God, eager to experience the reality of ‘God with them’, as symbolized by the temple. No doubt there was a mixture of motives. And God looks behind the gift to the heart of the giver.
In Luke 21 Jesus sees a widow put in her penny. He frames this scene and uses it to make a point: God is more impressed by the huge heart of her gift (she had nothing, yet put it in) than by the huge donations of the wealthy (who gave out of their surplus). This is so different for us. We celebrate the huge donations. A quiet donation of $20 from a needy family won’t get a bulletin announcement, but a big donation of $200,000 will.
In the end, all gifts have value, if the heart is behind them. $20 or $200,000 is a big deal, when it is given willingly, with heart. But the opposite is also true, $20 or $200,000 is NOTHING if it does not include the heart. The disciples see the temple and say ‘wow’, but Jesus looks at the people in the temple who are rejecting Him, and dismisses its beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. The question for today is not ‘how much did you give’ or ‘how much do you give’ but ‘how much of your heart went with the gift’?
PRAYER:
Lord, we are so impressed by the wrong things, You are impressed by the heart. May I willingly offer myself to You, as well as all my gifts!
What’s my Sabbath like? Is it a holy rest day or do I do the same as the other days of the week? There are many things I do on the Sabbath, but I do not do my daily work. Working seven days makes one weak.
I remember the table in many churches at the front, by the pulpit with the words inscribed -The Lord loves a cheerful giver. This passage speaks of that – being freely responsive bringing the offerings to God. It also mentions the willing spirits. Everyone who had it, brought it; everyone who had the gift to make the gifts, did so. WoW! Bringing the offerings, a voluntary, free will offering to the Lord.
The giver and the gift go together. The spirit in which you give is important. I am His and He is mine and all I do and say needs to reflect that as we saw in yesterday’s reading. How I serve the Lord God with my all in all includes my talents as well as my material blessings received from God for His purpose in my life. All that I have I owe to Him. Help me daily to freely give.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.