David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Exodus 35-37; Psalm 55.

Exodus 36:1-7

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”

² And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. ³ And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, ⁴ so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” ⁶ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, ⁷ for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

A friend once asked me, “You’ve got a big operation here. What do you do when someone doesn’t pay?”

I explained that we receive offerings — not payments. Scripture teaches that those who worship are to support the ministry where they are fed. But no one is paying for services rendered.

Over the years I’ve seen families who feel little compulsion to support the church financially. Some carry the weight of past financial mistakes. Some are simply stretched thin raising families. Sadly, some withhold for selfish reasons. One woman once told me she didn’t have to give an offering “because my daddy gave offerings to the church.” She was in her 60s. I didn’t quite know how to respond.

But I’ve never had to say, “Enough! Don’t bring any more offerings!”

Moses did.

The situation in Exodus was unique. The people were bringing materials for the Tabernacle — the tent that would house the visible sign of God’s holy presence among them. Rings, curtains, utensils, basins, pegs, cords — so many details that my eyes glaze over reading them. But this was not fundraising for a project. It was worship flowing from redemption.

God’s people brought freewill offerings — gold and silver, blue and purple and scarlet yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins (Exodus 35:23). There was no assessment. No invoice. No billing statement. They heard the call, and they responded — so generously that Moses had to restrain them.

Some churches operate with assessments, required pledges, or subtle coercion. That is not the way of God. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Why?

Because all that we have comes from Him. Life. Breath. Daily bread. Forgiveness. Salvation. Grace upon grace.

The Israelites gave because they had been brought out of slavery. We give because we have been brought out of something far worse. In Christ, we have been redeemed from sin and death. We are not purchasing God’s favor; we are responding to it.

Generosity is not payment. It is gratitude — the glad response of those who have been redeemed.