Exodus 35:20-29: a reflection

20All the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all of its service, and for the holy garments. 22They came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought brooches, earrings, signet rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man who offered an offering of gold to the LORD. 23Everyone with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them. 24Everyone who offered an offering of silver and bronze brought the LORD’s offering; and everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun: the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen. 26All the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair. 27The rulers brought the onyx stones and the stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate; 28with the spice and the oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29The children of Israel brought a free will offering to the LORD; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by Moses.

When the offerings are gathered for the building of the tabernacle, the account dwells lovingly on the spirit in which they were given: freely, from willing and stirred hearts. Everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, brought the LORD's offering, the account says; and again, all whose hearts made them willing brought a freewill offering. The giving was not grudging or compelled; it flowed from hearts that were stirred and made willing, glad to give to God's work. Men and women alike brought what they had, gold and cloth and skill, because their hearts moved them. This is the giving that pleases God: freely given, from a willing and stirred heart. God's people gave freely, from willing and stirred hearts. The giving flowed from hearts made willing, not from compulsion. Willing-hearted, glad giving is what pleased God. They gave because their hearts stirred them.

Notice how the account emphasizes the willing heart. Again and again it says the people gave as their hearts stirred them, as their spirits made them willing; the offerings flowed from glad, willing hearts, not from grudging obligation or compulsion. Men and women brought gold and cloth, and the skilled brought their work, all because their hearts moved them to give to the LORD's work. This shows us the spirit of giving that pleases God: not reluctant, calculated, or compelled, but free, glad, flowing from a willing heart. God loves not the amount so much as the willing heart behind it. We can give grudgingly, out of mere obligation, holding back gladness; but the giving that honors God is the giving of a willing and stirred heart, glad to give to his work. To give freely and gladly, as our hearts move us, is the giving that pleases God. Willing-hearted giving honors God more than reluctant, calculated giving. God loves the willing heart behind the gift. Give freely and gladly, from a heart made willing.

That is worth taking to heart, for the giving that pleases God is the giving of a willing and stirred heart, free and glad, not grudging or compelled. We can give reluctantly, out of mere obligation, holding back gladness; but when the tabernacle was built, the people gave freely, as their hearts stirred them and their spirits made them willing, glad to give to God's work. God loves the willing heart behind the gift. When you give, do not give grudgingly or from mere compulsion; give freely and gladly, from a willing heart, as God's people gave for the tabernacle. Give to God freely and gladly, from a willing and stirred heart rather than grudgingly or from compulsion, as when the tabernacle was built the people brought their offerings, men and women alike, everyone whose heart stirred him up and whose spirit made him willing, bringing gold and cloth and skilled work as a freewill offering to the LORD; for the account dwells not on the amount but on the willing hearts behind the giving, showing that the giving which pleases God is free, glad, and flowing from a heart made willing, not reluctant, calculated, or compelled, so that God loves the willing heart behind the gift more than the size of it, and we do well to give freely and gladly, as our hearts move us, rather than grudgingly out of mere obligation.

Lord, when the offerings are gathered for the building of the tabernacle, the account dwells lovingly on the spirit in which they were given: freely, from willing and stirred hearts. Everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, brought the LORD's offering, the account says; and again, all whose hearts made them willing brought a freewill offering. The giving was not grudging or compelled; it flowed from hearts that were stirred and made willing, glad to give to your work. Men and women alike brought what they had, gold and cloth and skill, because their hearts moved them. This is the giving that pleases you: freely given, from a willing and stirred heart. Show me how the account emphasizes the willing heart. Again and again it says the people gave as their hearts stirred them, as their spirits made them willing; the offerings flowed from glad, willing hearts, not from grudging obligation. Men and women brought gold and cloth, and the skilled brought their work, all because their hearts moved them to give to your work. This shows me the spirit of giving that pleases you: not reluctant, calculated, or compelled, but free, glad, flowing from a willing heart. You love not the amount so much as the willing heart behind it. I can give grudgingly, out of mere obligation, holding back gladness; but the giving that honors you is the giving of a willing and stirred heart. Take that to my heart, for the giving that pleases you is the giving of a willing and stirred heart, free and glad. When I give, keep me from giving grudgingly or from mere compulsion; help me give freely and gladly, Lord, from a willing heart, as your people gave for the tabernacle, that you may find in my giving a willing heart glad to give to your work.