Exodus 36

6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. And so the people were restrained from bringing more,

7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

The people gave so much that Moses had to issue orders that no one was to give anymore as they had more than enough for the work. Isn’t that amazing? Can you just imagine that happening nowadays after an appeal, when the church tells people not to give anymore because they have more than they need?

It is such a contrast with, for instance, the Church of England which has buildings, stocks, shares, money in the bank, investments. The Catholic Church is the same with many precious artefacts stored deep within the Vatican walls. Many churches operate on a 10% policy and give away 10% of all their income. Some give less, storing the income away in case income levels fall next year. Others give more and I am fortunate enough to go to a church where most of the income is given away (we have no church building, using a local community building to meet for worship).

But again, it all boils down to a willing heart, of seeking to do what God would have us do with our money, our time, our skills. Are we really making the best use of our income? Is what we are doing designed to bring us glory or God?