What Is in Your Hand?

Read: Exodus 35-40

Have you ever looked at what someone else does and thought, "I could never do that"? I've done that. It's easy to look at someone else's gift, talent, resources, or ability and think that what we have to offer isn't really that important. Maybe we're not a preacher. Maybe we're not a musician. Maybe we don't have much money. Maybe we just don't think what we can do matters very much. But Exodus 35–36 has challenged me with a simple question: What has God already put in my hands?

When Moses called the people to give toward the Tabernacle, they brought what they had: Gold, silver, fabric, wood, oil, spices. And some brought their skills. Bezalel is one of my favorite examples. He wasn't standing on a platform preaching. He was a craftsman. God had given him creativity and skill, and Bezalel surrendered those gifts to God.

That reminds me that my gifts don't have to look "spiritual" for God to use them; neither do yours. Maybe it's your business, ability to organize, creativity, finances, home, ability to encourage people, hands-on skills, or your time. Peter says, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace," (1 Peter 4:10).

What has God put in my hands that I've been treating as though it belongs entirely to me?

We've all received something, the question is whether we're willing to put it in God's hands. And here's the amazing part of the Exodus story: the people gave, the craftsmen built, and eventually the glory of God filled the Tabernacle. That's why generosity matters. We're not just giving money. We're not just volunteering. We're not just using our skills to keep things running. We're participating in something much bigger. We're helping people encounter Jesus.

What am I afraid might happen if I become more generous?

So I've been asking myself this question: "Jesus, what have You put in my hands that You want me to surrender to You?" Maybe that's a good question for all of us this week.

Prayer

"Jesus, thank You for everything You've placed in our hands and everything You've placed within us. Forgive us for the times we've treated Your gifts as though they belong entirely to us. Stir our hearts again. Show us what we can give, what we can do, and who we can serve. Help us surrender our finances, our time, our skills, our influence, and our abilities to You. And use whatever we bring to help people encounter Jesus. May everything we have and everything we do ultimately bring You glory. Amen."