The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
H.-The Offerings.

point.
II.-The Offerings.
The requirements for the service Of building
the tabernacle were various. 1t was not to be
built all of gold and silver bat almost every
article Of which the people were possessed was
required in its construction and for its furnish
ing and service. Gold, and all manner of
cloth: blue, purple scarlet and fine linen;
goats hair, and rams skins dyed red, badger
(seaD skins, silver and brass, shittim wood,
onyx, and other precious stones, oil and all
manner Of spices for incense. Some were able
to give of each kind of these things, while
others could give only of some kinds. Beside
these were those who had nothing in kind 10
give; and these, not to be left out Especially
of the women) offered their skillful service
and spun the goats hair and the fax for the
curtains and the coverings 1t was busy and
beautiful time, when all the men and the
women were thus participating in the glorious
work; the rich and the poor, the rulers and
the people, all mingling freely and lovingly
together to do the Lord s work and serve and
worship him in the doing. Their willing
hearts, as we'll as their gifts, bound them
together and made them one with the Lord
and each other. This variety il gifts and ser
vice suggests to us in how many ways we may
serve the Lord, each with his gifts accordingas
the Lord has endowed and blessed him. To
some the LORD mas gwen more imam 10 OlnerS,
but to none has he withheld some gift. So
that no one can say, 81 have nothing where
with I may serve the Lord" If there be any
so poor in worldly goods that they cannot give
even "two mites" of money, they may "spin,'
or serve the Lord with their natural gifts. A
woman or a man who cannot give in the ordi-
nary sense of that term, may pray, may speak
a word for Christ, may by kindly greeting or
wise conversation weave web of salvation
around some soul, or help discouraged and
foil 'l,rict
Scripture or of loving sympathy Only let it
be done unto the Lord, and it is accepted.
". - The Spirit in Which the Offerings
Were Made.
1t is not alone what we give, be it little or
much, but it is essentially the spirit in which
we give our gift or render our service which
makes it acceptable to God and a blessing to
our own souls. We may only note briefly the
teaching on this point.
LIT WAS DEvoUT.
That is, it was given as an act Of worship to
the Lord. Not because somebody else gave,
nor because it was to their religion as opposed
to the religion of the tribes around Them not
to be seen of men, nor to crafty their pride in
the erection of splendid house of worship,
nor to advance their own pet scheme of benev-
olence, but because they desired to worship the
Lord God, and show how heartily they
responded to the grace he had shown them,
and how joyfully they were now ready to par
ticipate in the true worship, as they had
while back given themselves to the false and
degrading worship of the golden calf
2.--IT WAS DELIBERATE.
They did not give on the spur of an imme-
date impulse, while Moses was talking to
them. They had first departed from the pres
ence of Moses to their own tents. They had
had time to think it all over and then they
"came every one whose hearts stirred them
up" They were moved from an inward pur-
pose, and not from mere impulse from with
out. A deliberate gift ''of purpose" is worth
thousand times more than a gift that is born
of a sudden impulse.
3.-IT WAS PROMPT.
They did not decide to give, and then delay
the gift; but Immediately, perhaps the same
day or the next day, returned TO the door of
Moses tent and laid down their gifts. HE
who gives promptly gives twice"
Ar WAS ENTHUSIASTIC.
Enthusiasm is purpose set on fire. "Their
hearts stirred them up" 1t was more than a
cold discharge of duty with these offerers.
They were warm and eager Much service
and many gifts lose their power for good
because they are given in so cold and formal a
way. But these came with shining faces, and
with a rushing but holy impotence to get
their Offering down, and see the work Of build
ing the tabernacle pushed forward to rapid
conclusion.
5.--IT WAS WILLING.
There was no grudging here no careful and
nice calculating, but a willing, happy giving.
"Ihe Lord loveth the cheerful giver," Such
were these oiferers. They were not acting
under constrant. -Four times il is said of these
offcrers in these ten verses, that they were
willing" and willing hearted" Their
affections were stirred up. So God calls upon
us to give. ''Of every man that giveth it will
inely, with the heart, ye shall take my offer
ing"
CT WAS ACCORDING TO ABILITY.
The rich gave their gold and precious stones
the poorer their silver and brass those still
poorer gave their shittim wood and spices
Their rams skins and their fax; while those
who had nothing else to give gave their fingers
and offered to spin and forge into shape and
form the gifts which others had brought 1T
is accepted according 10 that a man hath, and
not 10 that he hath not" III. Cor. viii, 12).
The man who has only one talent has no more
right 20 bury that IN n napkin, than the man
has to whom The Lord has given five talents.
And the man who us 8 his one talent well and
faithfully receives the same commentator
and reward that is accorded to the man who
has used his five talents faithfully and well.
In WAS IL TIE SPIRIT or SACRIFICE.
The bulk of their gifts were from those
things which entered into their personal enjoy
fneuts, and miuistered 10 their pride. Orua-
ments and such things were given, Tie
women and the men were alike in this. One
reason why there is such poverty in the Lords
treasury is because tho Lords people withhold
from him that which they spend ION the pride
Of life, !" and "the lust Of the flesh" They had
given in extravaganza to make calf Of gold;