My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in Exodus 35:10 All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded:

Exodus 35: 21 -  29 says -  Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.

They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the Lord.

And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them.

Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the Lord’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.

All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.

And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair.

The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate,

and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.

The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the Lord, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if we give offering to God it should not be because of compulsion or because others are forcing you, it must be given with our whole heart.

II Corinthians 9: 7 - So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

We should also know – in Proverbs 11: 24, 25 - There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Before we give offering to God, we must give ourselves completely (heart) to God and be made holy.

That is what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 23: 19 - Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

The reason why our Lord Jesus Christ is saying this is because they will be proper in giving offering to God but will not follow God’s righteousness and judgements. That is why Jesus Christ is saying this.

Matthew 23:23 - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

Matthew 23: 24 – 26 says - Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

Blind Pharisee first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, if the offering that we are giving God has to be accepted and be made holy our soul has to be made clean according to what God desires and be made holy. We must know that only then God will give the blessing that we deserve according to our offering.

We must also know as in Acts 4: 32 – 37

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,

and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Let us pray. May the Lord bless you all.

-        To be continued