More Than Enough

January 31

Read: Exodus 36:1-7

“For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” - Exodus 36:7

Sometimes, the cultural, time, and language distances between us and the Bible are almost too far to span. As residents in an incredibly materialistic society, Biblical statements on riches and money seem to bounce off us like Styrofoam pellets off plexiglass. We read about how God’s people gave, allow any principles involved to be diluted by our cultural filters, and learn nothing. In an effort to make some of it stick, let’s dig a little deeper.

First, notice who is doing the giving. This is the nation of Israel, fresh out of Egypt, wandering from place to place with no more than they could carry on their backs or on pack animals. Yes, they had spoiled the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35-36), but they still couldn’t have had much. In spite of it, when it came time to build the tabernacle and its furnishings, God simply told Moses to ask the people to give. Exodus 25:1-8 tells what they are to give, and how they are to give. Notice also, God was only interested in the one who would give “willingly of his heart” (v. 2).

Moses repeated God’s command in Exodus 35:5, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord: gold, and silver, and brass...” In verse 21, we see the response, “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.” Wow. No strident pleas, no offers of special prizes or blessings, no slick advertising campaigns, just a simple appeal to the Lord’s people. Notice there was no compulsion involved. You simply had to have a willing heart and something to give.

And the people gave. By our standards, these people had nothing. Most of us have enough clothes in our closets to cloth 100 of these people. We spend more on our pets than they ever saw in their entire lives. And still, the word of God says, “they gave.” And how they gave. In chapter 36 and verse 3 it says they gave, and they gave, and they gave, until, in verses 4 and 5, we read:

“And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; and they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.”

The people gave, and gave, and gave. They dug through all the saddlebags, they searched the chests and purses. They dug through the jewelry boxes, and they gave. They gave so much that the workers came to Moses and said, “Tell them to stop.”

I look forward to the day when I hear a Christian worker stand up and say to God’s people, “Stop giving, it is more than enough.”

God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply. - Hudson Taylor

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom


Truth is Eternal - Balthasar Hubmaier