It's About What You Can Give, Not What You Can't

Day 85:  Exodus 35, Psalms 85 & 2 Samuel 5

I've got four kids. Three boys one girl.  Twenty down to fourteen.  My oldest son wouldn't touch a ball until he was 18.  He was a distance runner, read a lot and could build some amazing things with Legos.  My daughter was the jock, soccer, volleyball, basketball, dance, cheer and a hurdler in track.  My last two boys are completely different, one with Autism and one with OCD.

What my wife and I learned pretty quick is that we couldn't treat all of our kids the same.  What inspired one didn't work with the others.  Discipline had to be different too, all it took with one was a stern word, our daughter pushed the envelope every time (after the water works).  And what we expected from each child had to be different too.

That is the way it is with God.  He knows us each individually and doesn't treat us all the same.  Well, yes, He treats us all the same when it comes to having a relationship with Him through Jesus.  Everybody is required to believe, repent, confess and be baptized.  But from there, He treats us differently.

He doesn't require the same thing from each of us, because He knows we each have special gifts and abilities and talents - He game them to us!

Here's what Exodus 35 tells us about how God seeks from us what we each are able to give.

...everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.  All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.  Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them.  Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the Lord, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it.  Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen.  And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.  The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.  They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.  All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.

Did you catch that?  Each person brought to God what they had.  It wasn't about what they didn't have, what someone else had or what they couldn't give, each one gave what they were able.  Those who were skilled used their skill to make what was needed.  Those who had access to the items that were needed gave them.  The wealthy brought the things that only they had, precious stones, spices and oils.  They each gave from what they had, freely.

There was no worry that they didn't bring what someone else did, they gave what they could.  Each one gave as they could.  This is why the tithe works, it's the same sacrifice from everyone, but not the same amount.  This concept brings us all together within the community of the church.  As each one gives from their income, talents, abilities, surplus, possessions, all the needs of the church are met.  No one has to give everything because everyone gives something.

What do you have to give?  How does God want you to give?  He doesn't care about what you don't have access to, but what you are able to give.  Stop worrying about what others may be able to give, if someone gives more or less.  Everyone gives... different.  And God isn't going to hold you accountable for what you don't have or what someone else has.  He treats us each just the way He knows we need.