Exodus 36:6, commentary and pictures

Just after leaving Egypt, while still wanderers with scanty means and small possessions, the people put God's house first and kept bringing willing gifts of their actual belongings until far more than could be used had been given. When those in charge judged that enough and more than enough had been freely given, Moses had it proclaimed through the camp that neither man nor woman should prepare any more work for the sanctuary, and the people were restrained from bringing. The gifts thus stopped were free-will offerings alone, given willingly and cheerfully from the heart to prepare a dwelling for God, without urging, compulsion, feasting, amusement or lottery. This stands as the pattern for the present, showing that once God's people are assured a work is called for they will give with cheerful devotion, energy and liberality until its needs are abundantly met. A house prepared for divine service is to be made comfortable, neat and sufficient and dedicated to Him, never left in debt to His dishonor, for He accepts what is brought earnestly from the best and blesses in proportion to the value placed on divine things.

The Camp Restrained From Bringing

The command belongs to the time just after Israel left Egypt, when the people were still close to slavery and were wanderers in the wilderness with scanty means, small tents of their own, small possessions and no prospect of adding to them, yet they put God's house first and built the tabernacle by the design God gave. The Hebrews had just been freed from bondage, and when the Lord called for an offering for the tabernacle they obeyed willingly and heartily with no urging needed. They withheld nothing, giving not a certain amount of their increase but a large portion of their actual possessions, because all was the Lord's and He had given them all they possessed, so that honoring Him by giving back to the Lender His own was their duty when He called for it.

Men, women and children of every age kept bringing free-will offerings for the building of the sanctuary until far more than was required or could be used had been given. They took ornaments and jewelry from their persons and gladly gave gold, silver, brass and ornamental work, because each wanted a share in erecting God's house, with cheerful and willing labor and with devotion and sacrifice from the heart in preparing a dwelling place for the Most High. The amount so given was more than a million dollars. Those in charge of the work and the builders judged that enough and more than enough had been freely given to complete the work. So Moses caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp that neither man nor woman should make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary, and the people were restrained and stopped bringing.

The work was part of God's instructions for building the tabernacle. The skill, genius and wisdom used in it were given by God to be used for His glory. Carrying out what He directed required care, skill and exactness.

Nature of True Offerings

The gifts that had to be stopped were free-will offerings alone, voluntary gifts given willingly from the heart to prepare a dwelling place for the Most High. They were brought gladly, cheerfully, wholeheartedly and abundantly, out of devotion and sacrifice and willingness to support the work God had commanded. Men, women and children of every age kept bringing them until far more than was required or could be used had been given, taking ornaments and jewelry from their persons and giving gold, silver, brass and ornamental work. They gave not merely a set amount of increase but a large portion of their actual possessions, because all belonged to the Lord and to return to the Lender His own when He called for it was duty. Those in charge judged that enough and more than enough had been freely brought, so proclamation was made that neither man nor woman should make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.

No urging or compulsion was needed or used to raise the means. No grand feast was made, the people were invited to no scenes of gaiety, dancing and general amusement, and no lotteries or anything of this profane order were instituted. The invitation was simply to bring, and the gift of every one who gave willingly from his heart was accepted. Offerings so freely given were to be used for the work God appointed, and they could abundantly meet its needs.

God accepts gifts brought earnestly from the very best a person has, and He can make even a small accepted offering go a long way. He blesses people in proportion to the value they place on divine things and to their estimate of sacred things. Unwilling and stinted offerings are not accepted.

Pattern for Giving Today

The stopping of the gifts is the pattern for the present, an example of generous, wholehearted support for a place of worship. True free-will offering is cheerful, willing and abundant, given gladly, wholeheartedly and from the heart to prepare a dwelling for the Most High. Once it is assured that a work is to be done and God calls for it, hearts just as free, willing and anxious will give means and hearty cooperation. Cheerful devotion, energy and liberality in preparing a place for God give everyone who takes part a share in the blessing of the work and in returning what belongs to Him.

If God's people prize the blessing of His sacred presence they will show zeal and liberality in preparing a house where He may meet with them. Their interest in it will be as much greater than that shown in preparing dwellings for themselves as heavenly blessings are of more value than earthly comforts. They will show zeal in proportion to the value they place on divine blessings.

A building prepared expressly for divine service should be arranged with care and made comfortable, neat and convenient, and dedicated to God to be made sacred by His holy presence. The amount freely given should be sufficient so that the workmen can say no more is needed and to bring no more offerings. A house built for God should never be left in debt, because He would thereby be dishonored. Those who spend freely for comfortable elegant houses for themselves and barns for cattle but give grudgingly for God's house and study to make it cost least value sacred privileges only as their works show, and will have prosperity and spiritual strength only according to their works. Those who withhold what belongs to God and rob Him will be afflicted in their families and decreased in possessions according to that disposition.