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1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.
Exodus 25:1-9 ESV

I. Instructions to Build
A. God instructs Israel to build a tabernacle, and God’s sequence reflects His order of priority.

II. Invitation to Participate
A.God doesn’t demand people join Him in His work. He simply invites them to participate.
B. God does demand donations. He asks for contributions.

III. Intent Matters
A. God wants us to give genuinely, not to get something or out of guilt.
B. God wants us to give generously, not just enough to get by.
C. God wants us to give because we are filled with gratitude and floored by His grace.

IV. Importance of Giving
A. God wants us to give because when we give, we give not to the church, but to God.
B. God wants us to give to Him because He wants to give all of Himself to us.
C. God wants us to give to Him through the church because the church is His ordained means of reaching the world with the Gospel.

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Jesus gave it all to make us His. We give a little to make Him known.