And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, this is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, 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. (Exodus 35:4-5).
When Moses had received all the instruction from God for the building of the tabernacle, he told the people to give willingly to support the work of the Lord. In the reading of this chapter it is revealed to us that many people were made willing, "as many as were willing hearted brought" (Exodus 35:21, 22, 29). This scheme of giving was so successful that Moses had to command the people to stop giving because of the excess (Exodus 36:5-7).
This should be the pattern of giving for every believer. God has given to us the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1-3, 16-17). He has also made us willing in the day of His power to believe and lovingly embrace Christ as all of our salvation (Psalm 110:3; Eph. 1:19). We have freely received all spiritual blessings because of Christ crucified and exalted to the throne of God ( Rom.3:24; 8:32; Eph. 1:3). How can we who have been blessed so abundantly, not also generously and willingly give to support the ministry of Jesus Christ? Our Lord said, "Freely have you received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8), "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
What a privilege it is to hear the gospel, to believe and to support it in every way by prayer, presence and pocket book. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2Cor. 9:7-9).