Sufficient For All, And More (Exodus 36:6-7)

 


Tuesday, May 27, 2025


Psalm 68:1-20

Exodus 35:20-36:7

John 14:8-13


Sufficient For All, And More (Exodus 36:6-7)


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.


One of the most mis-quoted Bible verses I have heard comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9. You have probably heard it before: “God never gives us more than we can handle”. Yet what St Paul actually writes is that God said to him “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. When we go through trials and struggles God actually gives us more than we can handle, so that his strength may shine through in our overcoming those trials and struggles, and we may learn to lean on God more.


I just wanted to get that out of the way before we look at today’s first lesson from the book of the Exodus. Because when Moses put out the call for help with labour and supplies to build the tabernacle of the Lord, he discovered they actually had more than enough to get the work done, and done well. Let us not be tempted to over-spiritualise this historic event and come away with the lesson that “God never gives us more than we can handle”.


Instead, perhaps we could remember that we are material beings; or, if you like, little incarnations of spirits made flesh. That is, we are surrounded by material needs. Our homes always need more work. The garden always needs more weeding. The church always needs more candles, bread and wine. The kids always need new shoes. There is always the need for more “stuff”.


Working our way through this life can be overwhelming just by virtue of the amount of stuff we think we need to get everything done. Yet we ought also to remember that God has given us fairly specific instructions on what actually needs to get done. He is sovereign over all things, and his providence works through all things. We co-operate with God’s designs; we don’t have to do it all for him.


So our question ought to be: what do we think needs to be done? What does God think needs to be done? Which of those two options do we have sufficient “stuff” for, and more?


Lord of time, space, and all things: you have counted the hairs on our heads and written our lives in your great book. Teach us so to heed your direction in our lives that we may understand the depth of your generosity towards us in all things.

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