Stop Giving, We Have Enough!

stop givingImagine for a minute that you are sitting in your church and you hear your pastor say, “We no longer need any more money. Please stop giving. Because of your generosity and sacrificial giving we have enough to do all the work God has called us to do.” Sounds crazy doesn’t it?

And yet that is exactly what Moses told the people when they started giving so that the temple could be built. The people were so moved that they began to bring all that they had in order to built a place for God to dwell.

And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”  Exodus 36:3-7

As I read this I was challenged. Do I give more than enough? Do I keep giving until there is more than needed to do the work of God? What if we gave freely of our resources until there was no longer a need? I am not saying that we could we end world hunger. But what about hunger in our community? Our church?

I know. These are hard questions. Some might say they are crazy, but they are questions that cross my mind as I read these verses. God may lead each of us to a different answer but nothing will change if we do not at least ask the question.

What if churches or ministries didn’t have to beg for money but instead God’s people just gave and gave until there was enough to do the work of God? What if we gave away more than we kept for ourselves?

 

 

This is part of my 2015 journey through the word. Please click to find more in this series.

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1 comment:

Leave me some joy...