Women Who Are Willing
“So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord.” – Exodus 35:29 NLT
Embracing the call that God places on our lives requires a willingness to put in the work. We can have all of the skills in the world, but if we lack the desire to willingly show up when called, we are limiting our own potential and keeping our gifts from those who need them the most.
In the Book of Exodus, Moses asked the community to give of their gifts to build a Tabernacle that not only honors God, but gives the Holy leaders a place to worship, pray, intercede, sacrifice, perform Holy rituals and minister to God on behalf of the people. There was a call for materials needed for the sacred garments and for craftsmen, designers, and creatives who could contribute their physical gifts, expertise and skills.
Moses used specific verbiage for those who came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord, when he said, “Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing.” – Exodus 35:22 NLT
The statement above shows that everyone wasn’t willing to serve the Lord through their gifts. Only the willing accepted the call to edify God’s kingdom and only the willing were open to sacrifice.
“They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the Lord. All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather. And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the Lord. And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project.” – Exodus 35:22-24 NLT
The items listed were considered prized possessions. They could be used to barter for household necessities or sold to feed families. Just because they were needed for God’s Tabernacle, didn’t mean that everyone wanted to give them up. Only the willing were led to sacrifice these items to help Moses in ministry.
We are called to serve one another in reference to Christ. Our gifts are not for us, they are to bless others and build up the kingdom of God. We must have a willing heart to serve God and a desire to freely and willingly present our gifts and talents to the Lord.
In Exodus 35:25-26 NLT, Moses said that, “All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth. All the women who were willing used their skills to spin the goat hair into yarn.”
We see here that there is a clear distinction and difference between the women who are skilled and the women who are willing. The skilled contributed by preparing the thread and cloth, but the willing used their skills to create something new.
Having skill is not enough, for we must have the willingness to use that skill to serve the greater good.
When it comes to answering the call that God has placed on your life, are you skilled or are you willing?
