Everyone whose heart is stirred

And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. (Ex 35:21 ESV)

"The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do." So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, "Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary." So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more. (Ex 36:5-7 ESV)


These passages are often applied to financial giving. But I believe they have a much broader application to the way the whole church is to be built up. Just as Moses and the skilled workers built the tabernacle and could not have done so without the "contributions" of those whose heart had been stirred in the Spirit; so too the church is built up, not just by the leaders and those marked out as being "skilled" at leading in the house, but as each member with his heart stirred by the Spirit brings his or her "contribution" or rather manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

We need to learn to qualify ourselves, and what we have to bring. Whether it is in financial giving, practical helping, or moving in the Spiritual gifts. The church cannot be built up as it is intended without the gifts the God has distributed throughout the whole body.

God has given us more than we need to get the job done, but he has not given it all to one man, nor even to a select few, but to the whole body. It is only when the whole body ministers as it should that we will have more than enough to meet every need.

Corinthians says that each man should give what he has already decided in his heart to bring. Again, I would suggest that this is broader than just financial giving. If God is stirring your heart to bring a "contribution" then you need to respond and not resist. God has given you something that is needed. It is time for everyone whose heart is stirred to respond joyfully to the promptings of the Spirit.


from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph 4:16 ESV)

Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. (2Co 9:7 NET)