When Willing Hearts Build Holy Things
Exodus 35:21 ESV
“And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.”
Exodus 35 begins with Moses gathering the people of Israel and reminding them of the Sabbath. Before the work of building the tabernacle begins, God reminds His people that even holy work must be done in holy rhythm. The work matters, but so does rest. The assignment is sacred, but the people doing the assignment still belong to God.
Then Moses calls the people to bring an offering for the work of the tabernacle. What stands out is that this offering was not forced. It was not manipulated. It was not taken from people whose hearts were not in it. Moses says that whoever is of a generous heart should bring the Lord’s contribution. And then the people come. Men and women bring gold, silver, bronze, yarn, linen, skins, wood, stones, spices, oil, and everything needed for the work.
But the key phrase is this: everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him. That is beautiful. The tabernacle was going to be built by willing hearts.
God could have provided everything without them. He did not need their gold. He did not need their silver. He did not need their skills, supplies, or craftsmanship. The God who created the heavens and the earth was not short on resources. But He invited His people to participate in building the place where His presence would be honored among them.
That is still how God often works. He stirs hearts. He moves people. He invites His people to bring what they have and offer it back to Him. And when willing hearts respond, ordinary things become part of holy work.
A piece of fabric becomes part of the tabernacle. A skillful hand becomes part of worship. A gift of gold becomes part of something sacred. A person’s time, effort, creativity, and generosity become part of a larger story God is writing.
One place I have seen this clearly is in the early days of The Rise Church. So much of what God built did not come through one huge dramatic moment, but through willing hearts bringing what they had. Someone gave time. Someone brought skill. Someone served kids. Someone helped set up. Someone prayed. Someone gave financially. Someone encouraged us when things were hard. At the time, each offering may have seemed small, but together God used it to build something much bigger than any one person could have done alone.
And while that was true in the early days, we still see it today. I am constantly in awe of how God brings the right people with the right gifts at the right time. Over and over again, He knows exactly what is needed, and He stirs the hearts of people to bring what He has placed in their hands. It is a beautiful reminder that the work of God is not built by one person carrying everything. It is built as willing hearts respond to Him together.
That matters because we often underestimate what God can do through a willing heart. We may think, “What I have is not much.” We may think, “Someone else is more gifted.” We may think, “My part does not matter.” But Exodus 35 reminds us that the work of God is often built through many people bringing what God has placed in their hands.
Not everyone brought the same thing. Some brought materials. Some brought skill. Some brought craftsmanship. Some spun yarn. Some gave jewelry. Some worked with their hands. Some carried supplies. But each offering mattered when it was given to the Lord.
That is a picture of the body of Christ. God does not give everyone the same gift, but every gift can serve His purpose. Some people preach. Some pray. Some teach children. Some greet at the door. Some prepare meals. Some give generously. Some create beauty. Some organize details. Some encourage the discouraged. Some serve quietly in places no one else sees. And when those gifts come from willing hearts, God uses them to build something holy.
There is a difference between serving from pressure and serving from a stirred heart. Pressure says, “I have to do this so people will approve of me.” A stirred heart says, “God has been good to me, and I want to offer what I have back to Him.” Pressure drains the soul. Willing worship brings joy, even when the work is costly.
That does not mean service is always easy. The work of the tabernacle would have required sacrifice, time, and effort. But there is something different about sacrifice when it flows from love. There is something beautiful about obedience when the heart has been moved by God.
This points us forward to Jesus. Jesus is the true meeting place between God and man. The tabernacle was a shadow, but Christ is the fulfillment. Through Him, God has come near. Through Him, we are brought into the presence of God. And now, by His Spirit, our lives become places where God is honored.
We do not give to earn His presence. We give because He has already come near. We do not serve to make ourselves valuable. We serve because, in Christ, we already belong to Him.
That changes the way we see our lives. Our resources are not just resources. Our gifts are not just gifts. Our time is not just time. Our homes, hands, words, meals, skills, schedules, and relationships can all become offerings to the Lord when they are surrendered to Him.
So today, ask yourself what God has placed in your hands. Maybe it is a skill. Maybe it is a resource. Maybe it is time. Maybe it is hospitality. Maybe it is wisdom. Maybe it is creativity. Maybe it is the ability to listen, organize, encourage, build, teach, give, lead, serve, or pray. Do not despise it. Do not assume it is too ordinary. Do not wait until you have something more impressive to offer.
The tabernacle was built when willing hearts brought what they had. And God still builds beautiful things through people whose hearts are stirred toward Him.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for inviting us to participate in what You are building. Thank You that You can use ordinary gifts, ordinary resources, and ordinary people for holy purposes. Stir our hearts toward You. Help us serve not from pressure, guilt, or performance, but from love and gratitude. Teach us to bring what You have placed in our hands and offer it back to You. Thank You for the way You bring the right people with the right gifts at the right time. Use our lives to honor Your presence and bless others. In Jesus’ name, amen.