Text: Exodus 35:5
Further Reading: Exodus 35:20-29
‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze.
Exodus 35:5 NKJV
MESSAGE
God does not force a man to do anything. He would rather allow the man to choose out of the options He has laid before Him. This is because man if anything goes wrong man may excuse and accuse God of wrongdoing. Whether in the service of God or giving to the things of God, Christians must learn to do everything willingly.
Anything done for God out of an unwilling heart will not be acceptable by God. Today, many people all in the name of trying to encourage people to give to God’s work have forced people to give when their hearts are unwilling. Though that individual gave quiete alright, the chance of the offering being acceptable before God is Zero.
Likewise, we also, whatever we want to do or give to God must be done with a willing heart because God delights in it. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
II Corinthians 9:7 NKJV
In our text and reading of the day, we saw God instruct Moses never to collect anything from any unwilling one. As far as God is concerned, those who give only get blessed, but those who are forced to give lose both ways because they lose what they gave and get no blessing in return.
Christian leaders must learn from this and stop coercing people to give when it is not from their hearts. We must stop cajoling people to give; rather we should encourage them to know that when they give it shall be given to them.
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 NKJV
Anytime you see anyone who claims to be a man of God use sleeky tactics to get money from you, you must learn to give according to what is in your heart and not what you think you should give.
REFLECTION
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12 NKJV
PRAYER
Your motive for giving or doing anything to the service of God is more important than what you give. Do you give out of necessity or from a willing heart?
Father, please help me to always give to you willingly from today. Amen.
