Exodus 35:29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering to the LORD, every man and woman… There is nothing so like God — because the essence of God is He is always emitting. "He opens His hand, and fills all things living with plenteousness": and all things are His. And the more expansive our minds, the more open our hearts, the more we give, the more we grow into the likeness of the great giving God. And it is such a sweet feeling one almost fears that we may be led to do it for the very sweetness there is in the act. But it is the happiness of giving when it is done to express our own feelings of love to Jesus. And though there is no merit in any gift that any man can ever give, yet there is "a good foundation for the time to come." And this is the way it is a foundation. It is an evidence. In the great day of judgment, the thing examined will be, "Did you love Christ?" For witness there will stand out your acts, to prove whether you did or did not love Christ — that is, whether you had accepted His salvation, and had loved Him in return. And your acts will stand out in testimony, to prove or disprove your love to Christ. And not only so. This world is a failing world, and everything around us will be bankrupt. Therefore, do you so use "the mammon of unrighteousness," the spoils of Egypt — money — do you so use "the mammon of unrighteousness" that it will be a "friend" to you — not an enemy, to rise up against you as a witness to your selfishness, and your pride, and your worldliness, but a friend to speak for you. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. |
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