What's Available

"They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high... You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold... You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high... You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that with them the table may be carried." -Exodus 25.10, 13, 23, and 28

As God begins to give instructions for His earthly dwelling place, we notice that a certain type of wood is used, acacia wood. Do you know why acacia wood was used? Because it was available. God instructed the people to use the wood that was at hand for the construction of the Tabernacle and some of its artifacts. They are traveling through the desert at this point, not a forest with choice pine or cedar. Acacia is what was there, and so acacia is what God used.

But He doesn't leave it as it is. He takes this wood that had great qualities, strength and resistance to insects and water, and then makes it fit for Himself. The wood is covered with gold. God takes the common, the available, and uses them for His service. He takes an oridinary branch and turns it into a gold covered pole that will carry a sacred chest. He takes a common tree and has it turned into a gold chest that will hold the mercy seat where He will meet with His people.

Men, are you available? God has given you gifts that make use ideal for service. Acacia wood is strong, and therefore good for construction. It resists insects and water making it durable and long lasting. But those properties do no good if the tree is 1,000 miles away. Your gifts are of no use to God if they aren't available. If you aren't willing to be used by Him then what good is your gift of speaking, or leadership?

You may feel that your skills aren't ready for service, that they are underdeveloped. Don't worry, God takes what is available, and makes it ready to serve Him. He had the wood covered with gold, and He will take your gifts and develop them. He will cover you with the Holy Spirit, making you fit to serve Him.

God uses what is available, are you?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Offering

"Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution." -Exodus 25.2

God is preparing a dwelling place for Himself among the people. His presence will be there in a place of residence. But in order for this to be accomplished the people need to raise a contribution. When they left Egypt they plundered the Egyptians because God gave them favor in the sight of the Egyptians. The were slaves, who left as freed rich men. And now God is asking for a portion of what they received so that He may dwell among the people.

But God doesn't want them to give it out of obligation; He only wants those who feel moved to give, to give. He wants the offering to be made freely and joyfully, not out of compulsion. God gave them all that they have, and He's asking for those who are willing to give back so that He can bless them even more.

If we look at our lives honestly, we'll see that everything we have is from God. We came into this world with nothing, not even clothes on our back, but as we go through life we acquire things. Some obtain more than others, but all of us get things because God allows it. The question becomes are we willing to give back to Him? Are we willing to take our stuff, that isn't ours and if it lasts longer than our lives will go to someone else, if it doesn't get thrown out somewhere along the way, and invest it for God?

Men, are you willing to make a contribution for God? Is your heart moving you to invest? And it isn't just with money, though that is the context here. Are you willing to invest your time? Each minute is a gift from God that we didn't earn. Are you willing to invest your talents? Those are things we didn't earn either, God blessed us with them so that we could bless others. Are you willing to invest your experience? Some have lived a long time, and had both success and failures, are you willing to pour those things into the life of a young man you know? Are you willing to invest your life? It isn't your's, and its length is unknown. Are you willing to spend it in service to something greater than yourself?

God asks us to give back to Him from what He has given us. If we are willing the results will be more blessing. God will bless us with His presence. He will bless us with provision. The point of giving is not to receive the blessing, and if we do it that way we've missed the point. The point is obedience and love for God. The people gave because their hearts were moved by all that He had done for them.

How is your heart moved?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor