January 26, 2023 - Exodus 36-40

Moses instructed Israel, “’Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.’ And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work” (36:1-2). And these workers “received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary” (36:3). And, so, “Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it” (39:43). Everyone contributed either by giving offerings or doing the work and only then could the work be completed.

I am reminded of Paul’s words: “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesian 4:15-16). We sometimes hear about the “80/20 principle,” i.e., the reality that, often, in the church, 80% of the work/ministry is done by 20% of the people. This should never be. Each of us, as in a family or on the job, has an important role to play in the church. Only when each is fulfilling that role is the church able to approach a state of health.

To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,

Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;

With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew,

Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

Toiling on, toiling on,

Toiling on, toiling on:

Let us hope, let us watch,

And labor till the Master comes. --Fanny Crosby (1871)