Wilderness 101: your offerings

God's people are living in a desert. When Moses tells them that God has given him plans for a 'tent of meeting' so God can dwell in amongst his people, we'd think they'd be excited. Here's how we imagine the chat: 'And, folks, it's going to have loads of treasure!' - 'Great Moses!' - 'And you're going to be providing that treasure!' - 'Hmm... actually, Moses we're not so sure about this...'

Yes, God could have provided treasure out of thin air (after all, 'he'd been providing a steady bread service). But he didn't. He wanted (and wants) the people to be involved. God wants the people to give to this tent, even from their own limited belongings (they're living with only essentials in a desert, remember). Why? Might it just be good for the people to put their money where their faith is? To be personally committed to the God in the centre of our lives?

Money has always been a touchy subject. But the model here seems to be: God gives the plan, then asks his people to fund it. God's people then make the plan happen, and have it as their own. (Psssst...God had given them everything they had in the first place, of course, but that's not today's main point). Wondering how to fund something? Start with asking God for his plan, then asking people to help you out.



So what now? What money issue are you going through at the moment? Do you have God's input for your plan yet?





— SCRIPTURE —

'Receive for me the gifts each person wants to give.' Exodus 25:2 NCV
— SOULFOOD —

2 Ki 1:1-4:17, Luke 13:1-17, Ps 77, Pro 6:29