Exodus 25 -- Giving God Back What He Has Given Us

God told Moses to tell the people:  "Bring Me gifts," but God was not some despot trying to either reassure himself that his subjects loved him, or trying to fill his suitcases with loot before leaving the country.  God wanted to stir their hearts to give freely of all they had to create the worship environment He would be directing them to construct.

God had provided them with the very wealth they gave back to Him.  In Egypt, they'd only been slaves with some livestock, but on the night they left, He'd caused the Egyptians to want to give them their riches and they'd carried the wealth of Egypt from the banks of the Nile to Mt. Sinai.  He was simply asking them to give back some of what He'd given them.  

Father, help me not to hold on too tightly to what You give me.  Remind me that everything comes from You, including my health and ability to work, and cause my heart to want to always give back to You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford