The Heart of Generous Worship

Exodus 35:4-9

Exodus 36:1-7

Let me take you back to the early days of World War II in England. London was under attack from relentless bombings, leaving the city and its people in ruin. Amid this devastation, a small boy named Peter stood in line at a soup kitchen, clutching a ragged blanket that barely kept him warm. Peter’s parents had been killed in the bombings, and he was left with nothing but the clothes on his back.

As he waited, a stranger approached him. This man, though poor himself, offered Peter his coat. When Peter asked why he would give away something so valuable in such desperate times, the man simply replied, “Because I have been given so much by my Savior, Jesus Christ. How could I not give to someone in need?”

Years later, Peter, who survived the war and became a pastor, would recount this story as the moment he understood what it meant to give sacrificially. That man’s generosity—motivated by his love for God—changed Peter’s life forever.

Just as the stranger’s generosity impacted Peter, God calls His people to give willingly and sacrificially.

In Exodus 35 and 36, we see the Israelites respond to God’s call for contributions to build the Tabernacle.

Their response was not only abundant but it overflowed from hearts stirred by gratitude.

Today, we will examine what it means to give generously—of our resources, our time, and our talents.

Giving isn’t just about meeting a need; it’s about demonstrating our love and obedience to God.

Let’s explore together what God desires in our giving and how we can live out the heart of generosity.

I. The Call to Contribute

35:4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

Moses was told by God to gather all of the congregation together and speak to them...

1 And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.

They had a job to do.

They needed to build the Tabernacle.

God had renewed His covenant with Israel in the previous chapter, and now it was time to build a portable sanctuary where God’s presence would dwell among His people.

God could have placed all of the tools and materials they would need in the wilderness for them to stumble across…but God wanted to use His people to do the work, so they could be part of the blessing.

Notice that this was...

A. A Divine Command

4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

God commanded Moses to take the collection of gold, silver and brass from among the people.

He did not want them to obey out of fear, or duty…but out of a willing heart!

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

did not want them to give out of obligation, but out of obedience.

There is a difference - true obedience comes from a right heart.

A heart that obeys out of love, not obligation...

John 14:15 KJV

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Missionary Amy Carmichael famously said, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

God out of His love for us commands us to have a giving heart but it must be...

B. A Willing Choice

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

If your heart isn’t willing, God doesn’t want it.

But that doesn’t mean your off the hook!

God wants us to obey Him because He knows doing what He says will bring blessings to our life.

It must come from a willing heart.

In a small village in the Philippines, a missionary was raising funds to build a modest church for a growing congregation. The church was meeting under a makeshift shelter of palm leaves and bamboo, but the rainy season made it nearly impossible to gather for worship without being drenched. The missionary appealed to the congregation to give whatever they could—no matter how small—to help construct a simple, weatherproof building.

Among those who came forward to give was an elderly widow, well known in the village for her deep faith and unwavering trust in God. She lived on a meager income, just enough to buy a little rice and keep a roof over her head. As the offering plate was passed around, she hesitated for a moment, then reached into her pocket and took out a small cloth. Carefully unwrapping it, she revealed a single gold ring—her most prized possession.

She placed the ring in the offering plate with trembling hands and a heartfelt smile. When the missionary saw her gift, he was overcome with emotion. He approached her after the service and gently said, “Ma’am, this is too much. Surely there’s another way you can help without giving away your only treasure.”

The widow shook her head and replied with a quiet but resolute voice, “This ring is all I have left, but my Savior gave everything for me. How could I not give something for Him?”

Her gift, though small in monetary value, inspired the entire congregation. The widow’s act of sacrificial generosity moved others to give more than they had planned, and the funds for the church building were raised faster than anyone expected.

Years later, that little church became a beacon of hope in the village, a testimony to the widow’s faith and the congregation’s united response to God’s call. The story of her gold ring was shared far and wide, inspiring countless others to give sacrificially, trusting God to multiply their offerings for His glory.

Just like the widow in the Philippines, we may feel that our resources are too small to make a difference.

But God doesn’t measure the size of the gift; He measures the heart behind it.

When we give willingly and sacrificially, He can use even the smallest offering to accomplish great things for His kingdom.

We see the Call to Contribute is important, recognizing that God has called all of us to live generously.

Next look at:

II. The Contents of the Offering

5:6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,

7 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,

8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

The Israelites brought gold, silver, brass , which was likely acquired from the spoils of Egypt (Ex. 12:35-36)

Exodus 12:35–36 KJV

35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

However in the wilderness these materials had no immediate way to be replenished, so giving them was a significant sacrifice.

They could have used these items to barter for needed supplies as they travelled.

They were...

A. Valuable Materials

Many of these metals were probably jewelry or personal treasures…possibly family heirlooms

The Blue Purple and Scarlet, were luxury items in the ancient times, symbolizing royalty (purple), divinity (Blue) and sacrifice (scarlet).

They were used to make the high priest’s garments and the tabernacle's curtains.

Bringing these items meant giving up items of personal adornment or family treasures.

In the wilderness, where resources were scarce, these offerings demonstrated profound trust in God.

The same is true form the fine linens and the goat’s hair and rams’ and badgers’ skins.

The Israelites' gifts remind us that true generosity often involves sacrifice.

Each gave as they had available…in this we see that the offering as a whole was made up of...

B. Various Contributions

They each gave what they had.

They gave not out of surplus but out of faith and gratitude, trusting that God would provide for their needs.

In the same way, our giving—whether of time, talents, or treasures—should reflect our love for God and our desire to see His kingdom advanced.

We should always give of our best to God, not leftovers.

How can your resources further His kingdom, whether giving to the church, or to another person in need?

Proverbs 3:9 KJV

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army said, “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”

At first glance, "surrender" seems counterintuitive to "power."

In worldly terms, power often comes through control, dominance, or self-reliance.

But in the Christian life, power comes through yielding to God’s will, trusting in His strength rather than our own.

Greatness in God's kingdom is not measured by what we achieve through personal ambition but by how fully we surrender to God’s purposes.

The more we let go of our own plans, desires, and pride, the more room there is for God to work through us.

Proverbs 3:9 KJV

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Every person has something to offer, whether material, skill or labor.

The Israelites responded to God’s call with overwhelming generosity, bringing valuable and sacrificial offerings for the Tabernacle.

But collecting these materials was only the beginning.

The real work—the transformation of these raw gifts into a dwelling place for God—was yet to come.

Now, we turn our attention to how God used skilled craftsmen, empowered by His Spirit, to complete this sacred task.

III. The Completion of the Work

6:1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded.

2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

It’s one thing to gather resources; it’s another to see them used effectively.

The Tabernacle wasn’t just a random collection of materials—it was a masterpiece of divine design, requiring precision, skill, and unity.

But how could a group of former slaves, wandering in the wilderness, create something so extraordinary?

The answer lies in God’s provision of both talent and guidance.

At the heart of this work were two men: Bezalel and Aholiab.

These weren’t ordinary laborers—they were individuals chosen and equipped by God Himself.

Their skills, wisdom, and craftsmanship were divinely inspired, showing us that when God calls us to a task, He also provides the ability to fulfill it.

Let’s look at how these craftsmen became instruments of God’s glory.

We see how God provided everything they needed…including...

A. Skilled Craftsmen

Bezalel and Aholiab were chosen by God, filled with the Holy Spirit, and equipped with wisdom and skill.

God does the same thing with us today.

God has chosen men to lead His church, He has chosen Christians to teach, serve, give, and use all of our talents for His glory.

What has God gifted you to do for His work?

1 Peter 4:10 KJV

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Dwight L. Moody said, “God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”

Are you ready and willing to be used by God in His church and in the world around us?

Find your Spiritual gifts and use them to the glory of God!

I preached a series back in 2022 on Spiritual Gifts, go back and listen to them on our website, and find how God has gifted you, and use that gift to enable His church to accomplish what He has planned for us.

Secondly we see that God’s provision brought...

B. Overflowing Abundance

6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be 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.

7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

The people gave so much that Moses had to ask them to stop giving!

I’ve never had to ask people to stop giving, but I have been amazed at the abundance that was given!

God lays on my heart a project that I believe we need to accomplish, and He lays upon your heart how He wants you to give toward it.

God always abundantly provides!

The Apostle Paul recounts a remarkable example of sacrificial giving in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, describing the churches of Macedonia.

These believers were not wealthy; in fact, they were going through severe trials and extreme poverty.

Yet their love for God and their desire to help others overflowed into an extraordinary act of generosity.

Paul writes that their giving was not out of abundance but beyond their ability.

They gave sacrificially, entirely of their own accord, even begging Paul for the privilege of contributing to the needs of the saints in Jerusalem.

What’s most striking is that they first gave themselves to the Lord, and their financial generosity flowed from that deeper surrender.

The story of the Macedonian churches is a powerful reminder that the value of a gift is not measured by its size but by the heart behind it.

When we give ourselves fully to God, our offerings—whether small or great—become acts of worship that He can use to accomplish extraordinary things.

Then lastly this morning, let’s look at....

IV. The Character of True Giving

35:5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.

True giving is more than an outward act; it reflects the condition of the heart.

The Israelites’ generosity wasn’t born out of obligation but flowed from a deep desire to honor God.

At the core of their giving was a willing heart—a key characteristic of what God desires in His people.

Let’s take a closer look at this foundational principle of willingness and how it applies to our own lives.

A. Willingness of Heart

When Moses called for offerings, he didn’t set quotas or impose taxes.

Instead, the invitation was simple: “Whosoever is of a willing heart” (Exodus 35:5).

The people responded overwhelmingly, driven by a joy and eagerness to participate in God’s work.

This wasn’t about compulsion; it was about a heart that longed to give.

Let’s explore what it means to give with a willing heart and how this reflects our love for God.

Giving with a willing heart is...

1. A Heart Stirred by God

35:21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

The phrase “whose heart stirred him up” suggests that giving begins with a work of God in the heart.

The Israelites didn’t give because they felt obligated or coerced; they gave because God moved their hearts.

My children, growing up in a Pastor’s home, would often hear of someone that was hurting or sick.

They couldn’t do much about their situation, but they did what they could… they often drew a picture for me to give to the sick when I went to visit them.

The gift wasn't the material worth, but the heart behind it.

This concept echoes throughout Scripture. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes,

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Giving that pleases God springs from a joyful willingness.

2. A Heart that Reflects God’s Love

Willingness in giving reveals where our love and priorities truly lie.

The Israelites’ offerings showed that they treasured God’s presence more than their possessions.

Matthew 6:21 reminds us...

Matthew 6:21 KJV

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Ask yourself: What do I treasure most?

Does my giving reflect my love and gratitude for God?

Consider the widow in Luke 21:1-4.

She gave two small coins, a seemingly insignificant amount compared to others.

Yet Jesus praised her because she gave all she had out of love and trust in God.

Her heart, not the size of her gift, was what mattered most.

For the Israelites: Their willingness to give wasn’t just about building a Tabernacle; it was an act of worship.

By offering their best to God, they acknowledged His sovereignty and their dependence on Him.

For Us Today: Willing giving isn’t limited to finances.

It includes our time, talents, and resources.

Are we willing to offer these freely to God’s work, trusting that He will use them for His glory?

A willing heart is essential to giving, but true giving goes even further.

It becomes an act of worship, expressing our gratitude, trust, and reverence for God.

Let’s explore how giving transforms into worship in action.

B. Worship in Action

When the Israelites gave their offerings for the Tabernacle, they weren’t just contributing materials; they were engaging in worship.

Their giving wasn’t merely a practical exercise—it was a spiritual act that expressed their devotion to God.

The Israelites’ offerings were outward actions that reflected an inward posture of gratitude and reverence.

Worship is more than singing or praying; it’s offering God our best in every aspect of life.

The Israelites brought their treasures as an act of worship, acknowledging God’s greatness and provision.

We offer a sacrifice to God with our very actions and bodies...

Romans 12:1 KJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Our giving is a practical way to present ourselves to God in worship.

During the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, a laborer was asked what he was doing. He replied, “I’m not just laying bricks; I’m building a cathedral to the glory of God.” The same is true for the Israelites—they weren’t just donating materials; they were building a dwelling place for God’s presence.

Not only is giving a form of worship, but we must also realize that Gratitude is the foundation of worship.

The Israelites gave because they remembered God’s deliverance from Egypt, His provision in the wilderness, and His promise to dwell among them.

Their gifts were a tangible expression of gratitude.

Psalm 116:12–14 KJV

12 What shall I render unto the Lord For all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord Now in the presence of all his people.

Gratitude naturally leads to giving back to God.

Conclusion

As we’ve seen from the example of the Israelites, giving is far more than a financial transaction—it’s an act of worship that reflects the condition of our hearts.

They brought their best to God, not out of compulsion but with a willingness and joy that honored Him.

Today, the same invitation is extended to us: to give of our time, talents, and treasures as an expression of love and gratitude to the One who has given us everything.

What will you contribute to God’s Work today?

Is your heart stirred by His goodness and grace?

Are you giving willingly, sacrificially, and as an act of worship?

As we sing our song of invitation this morning, pray and ask God to reveal how you can swerve Him.

Maybe it is offering your resources, volunteering your skills, or simply dedicating time to encourage others.

Remember, no gift is too small when offered from a willing heart.

Giving is not about making a donation, it’s about making a difference.

When we give with a heart focused on God’s glory, we participate in something far greater than ourselves.

Reflect on how God has blessed you—spiritually, materially, and in so many other ways.

Respond to those blessings by living generously, trusting that He will meet your needs as you give faithfully.

As you go this week, let your giving be an act of worship, declaring that God is worthy of all you have to offer.