Exodus 37:25-29: a reflection

25He made the altar of incense of acacia wood. It was square: its length was a cubit, and its width a cubit. Its height was two cubits. Its horns were of one piece with it. 26He overlaid it with pure gold: its top, its sides around it, and its horns. He made a gold molding around it. 27He made two golden rings for it under its molding crown, on its two ribs, on its two sides, for places for poles with which to carry it. 28He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.

As the furnishings of the tabernacle are made, the account describes the altar of incense overlaid with gold, and the holy anointing oil and the pure incense, made after the art of the perfumer. Even the incense and oil for God's service were not thrown together carelessly; they were made with skill, after the art of the perfumer, with the best craft that could be brought to them. What was for God's service was prepared with care and skill, the finest workmanship devoted to it. The incense offered to God was not a careless mixture but a work of skill; the best craft was given to what was for God, reflecting that what we offer him deserves our care and skill, not carelessness.

Notice the skill devoted to what was for God: the incense and oil made after the art of the perfumer. These were not prepared carelessly, thrown together anyhow; they were made with the perfumer's art, with skill and care, the best craft brought to them. What was for God's service deserved the finest workmanship, and it was given. The care and skill devoted to the incense and oil reflect that what we offer God is worth our best effort, our skill, our care, not carelessness or the least we can manage. God's service was done with skill; the best craft was given to what was offered to him. What was for God deserved care, and received it. The skill given to the holy things honored the One they were for.

That is worth taking to heart, for what we offer God deserves our best skill and care, not carelessness. We can bring to God's service our least effort, our carelessness, whatever is easiest, not troubling to bring our best skill and care; but the incense and oil for God were made with the perfumer's art, the best craft devoted to them. What is for God deserves our care and skill. Do not bring careless or least effort to what you offer God; give it your best skill and care, as the incense was made with the perfumer's art. Give your best skill and care to what you offer God, not carelessness or least effort, as the incense and oil for God's service were made after the art of the perfumer; for what is for God deserves our finest workmanship, and to bring him our best skill and care honors him, while careless or least effort treats as common what is offered to the Lord.

Lord, as the furnishings of the tabernacle are made, the account describes the altar of incense overlaid with gold, and the holy anointing oil and the pure incense, made after the art of the perfumer. Even the incense and oil for your service were not thrown together carelessly; they were made with skill, after the art of the perfumer, with the best craft that could be brought to them. What was for your service was prepared with care and skill. Show me the skill devoted to what was for you: the incense and oil made after the art of the perfumer. These were not prepared carelessly, thrown together anyhow; they were made with the perfumer's art, with skill and care, the best craft brought to them. What was for your service deserved the finest workmanship, and it was given. The care and skill devoted to the incense and oil reflect that what we offer you is worth our best effort, our skill, our care, not carelessness. Your service was done with skill; the best craft was given to what was offered to you. Take that to my heart, for what I offer you deserves my best skill and care, not carelessness. I can bring to your service my least effort, my carelessness, whatever is easiest, not troubling to bring my best skill and care; but the incense and oil for you were made with the perfumer's art. What is for you deserves my care and skill. Keep me from bringing careless or least effort to what I offer you; help me give it my best skill and care, Lord, as the incense was made with the perfumer's art, for what is for you deserves my finest workmanship and honors you.