Astonishing Generosity

What brings you joy? What is something you are good at, or something that is life-giving for you to do? Maybe you love to cook, or to work out, or maybe you are really great with carpentry, finances, or technology. Where are “the spaces” you occupy? Maybe you thrive in a conference room, a classroom, or a construction site. 

We are continuing on our journey towards a broader understanding of what it means to live a lifestyle of astonishing generosity. To help us in that, today we are going to meet a couple of master craftsmen in the Old Testament named Bezalel and Oholiab. At the time these guys entered the story, God had delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, and Moses was leading the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. God told Moses to build a tabernacle, a “sanctuary” where they could worship Him and He could meet with them. Don’t miss the wonder and awe of this—the Creator, Holy God of the universe, having just delivered His people from the hand of Egypt and split the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk across to safety on dry land, was now telling his people that He wanted to dwell among them. 

There were specific directions as to how the tabernacle was to be constructed and what it needed to contain. As God was giving Moses instructions, He also told Moses exactly who He had chosen to lead the work. 

In Exodus 31:1-6 God says, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you.” 

God hand-picked Bezalel and Oholiab as the master craftsmen leading the work. He had already equipped them with everything they needed to obey and follow where He was leading. He did not just make them master craftsmen so their families could have the best tents in the desert, but rather that they could be generous with their skill sets by investing them into the story God was writing.

When we consider our own giftings through the lens of astonishing generosity, we remember the exhortation of Colossians 3:17, where Scripture tells us that whatever we do, we are to “do it all for the glory of God.” God is asking us to be generous with whatever space we occupy in the world; not just to keep that gifting for ourselves, but also to consider how we can leverage our gifts to point others to Jesus.

Scripture tells us that we as believers are one body, with many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12). The psalmist praises God that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

As we continue on the journey of contemplating our astonishingly generous God,  how would God have you take a step toward being astonishingly generous with how He has gifted you? How might you use your gifts and the specific ways God made you to build His church and to point others to Jesus?

Jesus, thank you that You see me and made me. Give me eyes to see how You have gifted me. Let me not just keep those giftings for me and my glory. Show me how I can respond to Your generosity and have eyes to see how I can leverage those giftings and the spaces You have allowed me into for Your glory. Amen.