Giving to the cause of God is a part of religion, and by no means as unimportant a part as many people suppose. It is a part of religion not because the Lord has need of the gifts, or because He can be propitiated by offerings, for God is not "worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything," (Acts 17:25) but because men need to give for their own good. And from the earliest ages men were required to offer sacrifices to the Lord for this very reason.
As soon as man had fallen and the plan of salvation had been announced, sacrifices were required, that by the shedding of blood men might be enabled to realize something of the heinousness of sin; and that his faith in the promised Saviour might be kept in lively exercise.
"The blood of the beast was to be associated in the minds of sinners with the blood of the Son of God. The death of the victim was to evidence to all that the penalty of sin was death. By the act of sacrifice the sinner acknowledged his guilt and manifested his faith, looking forward to the great and perfect sacrifice of the Son of God, which the offering of beasts prefigured. Without the atonement of the Son of God there could be no communication of blessing or salvation from God to man. God was jealous for the honor of His law."--Ellen White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume One, Chapter IV, "The Plan of Salvation."
The offerings which form the subject of this lesson were, however, of a different nature from the sacrifices offered because of sin; they were free-will offerings of material for the building of the tabernacle.
Great and expensive preparations were necessary. Precious and costly materials must be collected. But the Lord accepted only the free-will offerings. Devotion to the work of God and sacrifice from the heart were first required in preparing a place for God. And while the building of the sanctuary was going on, and the people were bringing their offerings unto Moses, and he was presenting them to the workmen, all the wise men who wrought in the work examined the gifts, and decided that the people had brought enough, and even more than they could use. And Moses proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing."
The repeated murmurings of the Israelites, and the visitations of God's wrath because of their transgressions, are recorded in sacred history for the benefit of God's people who should afterward live upon the earth; but more especially to prove a warning to those who should live near the close of time. Also their acts of devotion, their energy, and liberality, in bringing their free-will offerings to Moses, are recorded for the benefit of the people of God. Their example in preparing material for the tabernacle so cheerfully, is an example for all who truly love the worship of God. Those who prize the blessing of God's sacred presence, when preparing a building that He may meet with them, should manifest greater interest and zeal in the sacred work in proportion as they value their heavenly blessings higher than their earthly comforts. They should realize that they are preparing a house for God.
Many will expend much to erect comfortable and tasty buildings for themselves; but when they would prepare a place that they may receive the presence of the high and exalted One, they manifest a wonderful indifference, and have no particular interest as to the convenience, arrangement, and workmanship. Their offerings are not given cheerfully from the heart, but are bestowed grudgingly; and they are continually studying in what manner the sacred building can be made to cost the least, and answer the purpose as a house of worship.
"Some manifest more interest in building their barns, wherein to keep their cattle, than they do in building a place for the worship of God. Such value sacred privileges just in that proportion which their works show. And their prosperity and spiritual strength will be just according to their works. God will not cause His blessing to rest upon those who have so little estimate of the value of divine things. Unwilling and stinted offerings are not accepted of God. Those who manifest that earnestness to bring to the Lord acceptable offerings, of the very best they have, willingly, as the children of Israel brought their presents to Moses, will be blessed in that proportion that they have estimated the value of divine things."--Ellen White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume One, Chapter XXI, "The Sanctuary."
God might have ordained that His worship should cost nothing; yea, He might even now fill the treasuries of His church full to overflowing without taking a dollar from anyone, but everybody knows what the result would be; the church would be shorn of her power, for she would forget the words of the Saviour: "Without me you can do nothing," (John 15:5) and gold would become her god. "If any man will come after me, [said the Saviour,] let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)
This denial means vastly more than merely abstaining from that which the world recognizes as sin--it means the giving up of legitimate comforts and enjoyments for the good of others; and following the Saviour means much more than simply not doing evil--it means doing good. It is walking even as Christ walked; and His life was one not of self-pleasing, but of self-denial for the salvation of others. He left the courts of Heaven and even laid down His life for us; and can we hope to be His disciples while selfishly enjoying all that we can of this world, and planning only, like the men of the world," (Psalm 17:14; From men which are your hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes) to leave the rest of our substance to our children?
While we cannot say that a people's spirituality is always measured by their generosity, it is certainly true that their spirituality never rises above their generosity; always remembering, however, that the gift is measured not by its money value, but, as in the case of the poor widow, (Luke 21:2-4) by the motive which prompts the gift.
Those who give most from a sincere desire to advance the cause of truth, are blessed most; not because the gift of God can be purchased with money, but because having given their means they will also give their prayers; and in so doing what they can to water others, their own souls will be watered.--Signs of the Times, July 13, 1888--Notes on the International Lesson, July 21--Exodus 36:20-29
E.J. Waggoner