“Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying, 5 `Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD’S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, 6and blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goats’ hair, 7and rams’ skins dyed red, and porpoise skins, and acacia wood, 8and oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, 9and onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breast piece.” (Exodus 35:4-8) When God wanted Moses to build the Tabernacle so He could dwell among His people, He gave Moses instructions to give to the people about making an offering of goods and materials from which to make the Tabernacle. Christians today are commanded (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) to make a free will offering to God on the first day of the week (Sunday). We are not commanded to tithe as some denominations teach but rather it is to be a free will offering “according to how God has prospered you”. It is to be given as we “purpose in our heart” as an expression of our recognition of the blessings we have received from God. But more than that, we are to give ourselves as a “living sacrifice to God which is our reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2). We are so focused on material things today that we often forget all about God who is the giver of these gifts. How can one expect to receive blessings from God when he or she leaves God out of their lives altogether?
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