Exodus 35:21
And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
At the foot of Sinai after leaving Egypt, Israel was invited to bring an offering to build a portable sanctuary according to the design shown to Moses, so God might dwell among them and be made known in all their travels. Every one whose heart stirred him and whose spirit made him willing came, men and women alike, bringing gold and silver and brass, choice fabrics and wood, precious stones, spices and oil, and skilled work spun and wrought by wise hearts. Though poor with small tents of their own, they put God's house first and brought free offerings every morning in such abundance that there was far more than enough, until they had to be told to cease. God accepts only what is given willingly from the heart, with devotion and sacrifice as the first requisite for preparing His dwelling, and such glad, eager, cheerful giving from the best they have is pleasing to Him and brings blessing in proportion to zeal for His presence. Their willing, generous, energetic liberality remains the pattern for providing places of worship and sustaining His work today, with extra freewill gifts beyond regular donations, each giving in proportion to what has been entrusted, until there is enough and no more is needed.
Tabernacle Offering Described
Shortly after leaving Egypt, at the foot of Sinai, Israel was invited and commanded to bring an offering to make a sanctuary that God might dwell among them. The call was for a dwelling place for the Most High, requiring great and expensive preparations with large amounts of precious and costly material.
The work went forward according to the word of the Lord and the design shown to Moses in the mount, with the exactitude, skill, tact, wisdom and perfection required in that work. What was built was a sanctuary that could be taken from place to place, so that in all the travels of the children of Israel the knowledge of God should be made known.
Then every one whose heart stirred him and whose spirit made him willing came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, and brought the Lord's offering for the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all its service, and for the holy garments. The giving was voluntary and came from willing hearts, with both men and women contributing to support the sanctuary, its service, and the holy garments.
Their gifts included gold, silver and brass, choice fabrics and valuable wood, precious stones, costly spices and oil for the lights, and what all the wise-hearted women spun with their hands and brought of what they had spun. Both materials and skilled work were thus offered for the sanctuary and its service, and the skill and wisdom used in that work and in making the holy garments were themselves gifts from God to be used for His glory.
This was done when they were only a step from freedom back to slavery and had only scanty means, with small tents of their own. Yet they did not ask to enlarge their own dwellings but put God's house first, gladly taking ornaments and jewelry from their persons and casting them into the treasury to beautify and enrich the house for God, each soul anxious to have an interest in the tabernacle being erected for God.
They brought free offerings every morning in such abundance that more than a million dollars was spent in cheerful and willing labor, and the people brought much more than enough for the service of the work commanded to be made. At last Moses had to proclaim that they had enough and their offerings must cease, because all that had been brought could not be used and they had supplied more than the work required.
This generous-hearted, willing service was pleasing to God. When the tabernacle was completed He signified His acceptance when a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Spirit of Willing Giving
The offerings for the tabernacle were freewill gifts, and only what came from every one who gave willingly with the heart was accepted. Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice were the first requisites and were essential to preparing a dwelling place for Him and for His presence.
They needed no urging and no pressure or fundraising entertainments. When hearts are assured there is a work to be done and God calls for means and hearty cooperation, stirred and willing hearts are free and willing and anxious to aid the advancement of His work.
Their gifts were given gladly and eagerly and cheerfully and from the best they had, not grudgingly or sparingly. Such willingness showed how highly they valued sacred things and God's presence and heavenly blessings.
This was a special object calling for extra freewill gifts beyond systematic and regular donations. As with the temple later erected at Jerusalem, this giving was required from all in proportion to the amount possessed, so that larger capital entrusted called for a more valuable gift returned to God. These drafts made by God upon the people were both for their own good and to sustain His service.
Offerings given grudgingly or in scant measure show little regard for sacred things and are not acceptable. Willing and generous gifts are blessed and bring blessing and spiritual strength in proportion to the giver's estimate of their value and to zeal for worship.
Through willing giving and labor with mind and hand the people learned cooperation with God and with one another. That cooperation in building the sanctuary also taught them to help prepare the soul as God's spiritual temple.
Pattern for Giving Today
The cheerful, generous giving of Israel in preparing a place for God's presence is the example for preparing a place of worship today. Offerings for such a work are to be freely given from the heart, gladly brought because hearts are moved and willing. Zeal in giving should be in proportion to the value placed on worship, on God's presence, and on heavenly blessings. Those who value God's presence will give zealously, liberally, energetically, and devotedly, esteeming sacred privileges above earthly comforts. The work should be funded sufficiently to be completed well, until there is enough and no more is needed. Gifts given grudgingly or in scant measure show little regard for sacred things and are not acceptable, while willing, generous gifts are blessed in proportion to the giver's estimate of their value.
The verse shows that people may be made willing to give generously for God's work, which He cares about even in its details. God does not furnish means for His work without asking sacrifice from His people, though the gold and silver, and even souls and bodies, all belong to Him. The same willing, unselfish giving is now required in America for the work at Takoma Park. It is for establishing a school and a sanitarium and erecting a building for public work, beginning school and sanitarium work as soon as possible. All the churches are to show unselfish interest and do all in their power to hasten memorials for God forward in that important place, giving without weariness and continuing the special effort without ceasing. The work is to go forward with careful, economical, thorough labor, using donated means in the most careful and economical way, with no slack or slipshod work.
The call answered with perfect-hearted, rejoicing, willing offering of gold and silver and brass applies to giving to strengthen institutions and training centers and to support medical missionary evangelists. The same pattern applies to giving for schools and to purchasing property for education and mission work. In this way every soul may have a share in the blessing that comes from returning to the Lord what is His own, with all wanting a part and giving freely until there is enough. The Lord's work is supported by people moved by the Spirit and made willing to give. Their offering can include labor as well as money, each contributing according to what can be given, with those with large families giving what can reasonably be expected of them.
God makes hearts willing to show faith by works through aroused, willing giving of sympathy, prayers, means, and hearty cooperation. Those whose hearts the Lord makes willing are to come forward with their means to invest in the houses of publication and make them their property. This is to be done even more willingly than by the few believers in former years, whose persevering, self-denying prayers and alms for the publishing work came before God as a sweet savor. Such willing investment supports sending the last message of mercy to all parts of the earth, because the end of all things is at hand.