40. An Offering

An Offering

Take for me an offering. Exodus 2.2.

This was Jehovah’s own request. Moses first heard these words when he was on a mountain awaiting God’s instructions. He had waited patiently for seven days before Jehovah uttered a word. Perhaps he wondered, during that long wait, what Jehovah would say. Finally, the long silence was broken with the abrupt words of our text. Jehovah asked for “an offering” even before He gave out the plans for the tabernacle. An offering, then, must be very important.

This offering was to be of such a nature that “every man whose heart maketh him willing” (v. 2), would have an opportunity to participate in it. At least fifteen items were mentioned, ranging from gold to goat’s hair. Those who could not give one thing could give another. The poorer people were not to be left out, for their gift would be blest as well as the gifts of others. It is interesting to note that of all the givers in Jesus’ day, it was only the widow who gave her two mites who was exalted by Him, for “she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12. 44). Let us not then withhold our gift, if it seems small to us. “For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not” (2 Corinthians 8. 12). Let us be sure then that we give “according as a man hath.” If we give less, something is the matter with us.

Only he “whose heart maketh him willing” was asked to partake in this offering. All others could keep their possessions for themselves. God looks at the heart and therefore wants nothing from those whose heart is not right with Him. “Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9. 7). God would rather receive five cents from a person who gives out of a cheerful heart than to receive five thousand dollars from a wealthy person who gives of necessity or grudgingly. No one, then, can please God by his giving unless he has first given Him his heart. It could be said of the early Macedonian Christians, “First they gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8. 5). Then they gave of their means.

The purpose of this offering was to make Jehovah “a sanctuary” so that “he might dwell among them” (Exodus 25. 8). Their giving would simply provide a way for Jehovah to give them much more in return. He could easily have gotten material for the tabernacle some other way, “for the earth is Jehovah’s and the fullness thereof.” However, He chose to do it this way for the sake of the people. It is interesting to notice that even though the people were to derive the benefit of this offering, still the command was given, “Take for me an offering.” We should always be thankful to have a definite part in an offering! The promise is “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom” (Luke 6. 38). The hand that reaches out to give some temporal blessing is the hand that opens the door for Jehovah to pour forth His eternal blessing. Truly, then, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20. 35).

The result of this simple plea for an offering was staggering. Those in charge reported, “The people bring much more than enough” (Exodus 36. 5). Moses, therefore, had to command the people to stop. “For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much” (Exodus 36. 7). “So the people were restrained from bringing” (v.6). Have you witnessed anything like this in our day? Pressure is often used to get people to give, but it is rarely exercised to stay their giving. If offerings today are for Jehovah, should not results be the same? Does not the command still hold good, “Take for me an offering”? Then, surely we who live in this age of grace should produce similar results.

It takes the grace of God to participate rightly in an offering. To be sure, it takes the grace of God to be saved and to continue in the Christian life, but it also takes the grace of God to live. When Paul made mention of the offerings received from the Macedonian churches, he began by saying, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia” (2 Corinthians 8. 1). This grace was so abundantly poured out upon these churches that they gave “of their own accord” (v. 3). Paul was anxious that the Corinthians should have “this grace also” (v. 6); he therefore reminded them of “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8. 9). If we then want grace for giving, we must go directly to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask for it. This grace He gives freely to all who want it. 0niy those who have freely partaken of this grace can freely give. “Freely ye received, freely give” (Matthew 10. 8).

God has spoken. “Take for me an offering” was His simple request. Such a command calls for immediate action. Let us pray for grace to be faithful.