(An opportunity to be a blessing.)

There is a beautiful story in the bible where Jesus was sitting in the temple watching over everything that is going on, and he directs the attention of his disciples to those who were bringing in their offerings. While different ones brought in their offerings and gave from their abundance, there was one widow woman whose giving caused her to stand out amongst all. Jesus said that out of everyone that gave, she gave the most, even though it was only two small copper coins, because she gave her all from her heart. This story can be read at Mark 12:41-44.

What makes a gift given so valuable is the heart of the giver. God tells us this in 2Corinthians 9:7 where we are told that God loves a “cheerful” giver.

My all-time favorite example of “cheerful giving” is found in the book of Exodus chapters 35 and 36. In the verses of those chapters, God called the artisans to do the work of preparing various articles of the tabernacle and HE filled them with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, pouring out HIS Spirit upon them, for this work of “making all that the Lord has commanded”. (Exodus 35:10) Moses told all the children of Israel that they were to “take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord…” (Exodus 35:5)

Why this is my favorite example of cheerful giving is because of the way the people responded to the opportunity to give from their heart. In chapter 36 of Exodus we find that the people gave so generously that it created a necessity for the artisans to go on strike, staging a walk-out from their jobs, just so that they could all go to Moses to request that the people be stopped from giving.

“…And the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done – indeed too much.”

Exodus 36:6-7 NKJV

What an amazing problem to have. This problem came from the door being opened to give freely, “whoever is of a willing heart”.