The Israelites, once slaves with nothing of their own, became wealthy beyond imagination when God delivered them from bondage and allowed them to spoil their Egyptian masters. When God asked for an offering to build the Tabernacle, they responded with an enormous outpouring of gold, silver, bronze, fine cloth, furs, precious stones, and their labor, estimated conservatively at around $40 million. Their generosity was so overwhelming that Moses had to command them to stop. God did not command this offering but requested it, desiring only what was given willingly. Their offerings were spontaneous and generous, given cheerfully and freely, reflecting a magnanimous and liberal spirit. This example of the Israelites' first love and willingness to give stands as a powerful lesson. God wants us to imitate their generosity and attitude in giving, recognizing that it is not the amount offered that matters, but the heart behind it. As God loves a cheerful giver, we are encouraged to give as we purpose in our hearts, not grudgingly or out of compulsion. Like the Israelites who came out of physical slavery, we have been redeemed from spiritual bondage and are now free to follow God's way, spiritually wealthy with hope and a vision of life in His Kingdom. In building a spiritual Temple, we must consider what we have to offer, determining for ourselves if we will follow the Israelites' fine example of generous giving.

We must ensure that our offerings to God are of the highest possible quality, mirroring the care and excellence of the Temple sacrifices. The attitude, thought, effort, and preparation that go into our offerings are of utmost importance. Like the family who, despite financial hardship, gathered recyclable items to create an offering, God is likely pleased with such dedication and ingenuity. Even in times of financial strain, God sees, understands, and appreciates the efforts made by His people. The purpose of focusing on offerings is not to extract more money, but to inspire giving with the proper attitude and for the right reasons. God and His true ministers recognize our financial constraints and value our sincere efforts. We need to take the time to consider, plan, and give quality offerings during the holy days.

The principle of giving offerings remains unchanged across time, emphasizing that we must offer our best to God. Our offerings should not be mere afterthoughts; instead, we are to invest time and serious thought into deciding what we will give. This process involves prayer and meditation to ensure the quality of our offering reflects deep consideration, acknowledging that it will cost us something. When preparing an offering, our human nature may view the act as painful, prompting the question of personal benefit. Yet, God, in His wisdom, does not design offerings as a one-way street. He creates with multiple purposes, and offerings are tools to teach us financial management. Budgeting, whether for time or money, is essential in this process. By mapping out our resources through a detailed plan, we gain a clear understanding of our financial situation, enabling us to make informed decisions on how much to offer. God commands us to give offerings cheerfully, not grudgingly or out of necessity. Achieving this cheerful giving comes through budgeting, allowing us to see where our money goes and to commit to a specific amount for each holy day. While unforeseen circumstances may alter our plans, we must avoid creating excuses that undermine our efforts. An accurate financial map ensures we give with purpose and joy. From a financial perspective, God does not need our money, but in the economics of an offering, He desires it as an investment in us. Through our offerings, He creates value by helping us grow more like Him, reproducing His image in us. An offering, when utilized fully, becomes a financial management tool that assists in optimizing our resources, ensuring we give our very best to God and take steps closer to reflecting His image.