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A WILLING HEART (I)
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 11
Exodus 35:1-29

Psalm 50:12

“…whosoever is of a willing heart,

let him bring… an offering…”

A WILLING HEART (I)
In the wilderness, God spoke to Moses and commanded a Tabernacle to be built. The design of the building was divine; the material was to be provided by the people. They were commanded to give “an offering unto the LORD,” and there was only one qualification: whoever brought an offering was to be “of a willing heart” (Exod 35:5).
The words “willing” (v 5, 22), “made willing” (v 21, 29), and “willing offering” (v 29) are all from the same root, and describe a heart that is inclined; an offering that is voluntary, without reluctance or constraint. This is the kind of heart that we must have, when we bring an offering to God. Here are three features of this “willing heart,” for our consideration.
A willing heart is required. This was a command and a necessary qualification ‒ those whose hearts were not willing, were not to give! In other words, it was not the offering itself that was required. God did not need the help of the Israelites: He had supernaturally provided for them food, water, shade, light ‒ all without any demand for their assistance. If He had so desired, He could have supernaturally provided all the materials necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle. Indeed, He could simply have commanded the Tabernacle to come into existence, fully formed! Instead, God graciously chose to give His people the privilege of contributing the materials and performing the work for the building of His Tabernacle.
So also in the advance of God’s kingdom today, it is not our contribution that God requires, but a willing heart. For the Tabernacle, some were specially gifted in the required workmanship, and these were “called by name” (Exod 31:2); but all the people were called willingly to contribute their material offerings. Likewise today, some are specially called to be missionaries; some to preach or pastor ‒ but all are called to contribute, willingly, to God’s work. Whatever we bring to God, therefore, whether it be an offering of our substance, a sacrifice of praise, or intercessory prayer, let us make sure that our hearts are not grudging, but willing.
THOUGHT: It is a privilege to contribute to God’s work.

PRAYER: Gracious Father, help me to give willingly to Thee.

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