Beginning with Thanksgiving, the push is on. The requests for donations and giving in conjunction with the holiday season compel us to do more, and to give to those in need. Whether motivated by the stories or a tax deduction, through yesterday, every organization and effort was clamoring for a large piece of the season of giving.
Oddly enough, I found myself in Exodus 35 and 36 the past few days and I just once again wondered if we listened to the spirit and followed the will of the father, would we even need all of these pleas.
In Exodus, we find the first freewill offering. God has laid out the plans for the tabernacle. Long story short, our heavenly father is VERY specific in his plans for what it should look like (we could totally follow the plans and build it today). God doesn’t dump the supplies at their feet, though.
Moses makes a call, no begging, no knocking on doors. Moses simply states the needs for the building of the temple, and the people are moved and respond. God named who would step forward to build it, and they did.
There is ZERO hesitation on what is about to happen. They just start building. The people continue to bring offerings and the appointed craftsmen simply go about their work- so much so, that Moses has to instruct the people to stop bringing offerings. There is a complete outpouring to meet the needs, and no one was begged or commanded!
It just makes me wonder, as this new year begins, why we wait for the holiday push. Why we only feel compelled by peer pressure or year end pleas. Are our gifts even utilized to the fullest when they aren’t given according to His will? Our requests to meet needs can’t go nearly as far if they’re our cause and not his Holy mission.
My commitment this year is to be as much of a Freewill giver as possible. I want to give as the Israelites gave- to meet needs as I feel lead and to see God move rapidly because of the obedience of His people. What could we do if we just felt connected to a call and responded? Would the world be changed? Why not?
A Snap of Ginger 