Multiplying Ministry
Opening Prayer
Is your generosity an overflow of your awareness of God’s extravagant goodness? Pray for a stirred heart in this area.
Read Exodus 35:30—36:7
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. 36 1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”
6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What if our response to God’s goodness is reflected by our generosity to God and to others?In this section we see two evidences of abundance and multiplication among God’s people as they prepared the Tabernacle for worship.
First, Bezalel and Oholiab are seen again as the leaders of the building project (Exod. 31:1–11). Filled with God’s Spirit they were to lead all the artisans in creating this place of divine dwelling and worship. And they were to teach others rather than doing everything themselves.
Second, we see the people bringing offerings of materials for the project to such an extent that Moses had to stop the people from making offerings because it was too much.
When God’s people are stirred by all that God has done for them, both in redeeming them and in continuing to forgive and love them, there should be a multiplied response in worship. Gifted leaders serve God not only by doing what they are gifted to do, but also by training others too (Eph. 4:11–16). And God’s people give generously so that the needs of God’s house are more than covered.
Apply
Is your church so stirred by God’s goodness that there is an extravagant response from the church in worship and in giving?
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray that a heart of freely abandoned giving to You would be apparent in my church, and that it would start in me.
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