An invitation to worship - and the importance of planning

While reading Exodus chapters 35 & 36 today I was struck by the opportunity that God gave to the Israelites to participate in the construction and preaparation of the tabernacle. In verse 4 of chapter 35 we read that 'The Lord has commanded' but then in v5 'Everyone is invited to bring these offerings to the Lord . . .'

Then we read in v20-22 : 'So all the people left Moses and went to their tents to prepare their gifts. If their hearts were stirred and they desired to do so, they brought to the Lord their offerings . . . Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing.' The passage then goes on to say how people not only brought material but also offered their abilities and skills.

As I'm still preaching on the subject of finances and giving, I'd considered this episode in Israel's history. But reading it today, I was struck by the idea that everyone had the opportunity to contribute to the place where God would meet his people, and where they would meet with him. The meeting place with God . . . the place of worship.

It ties in with the book I'm reading too, 'The Prodigal Project' which suggests different ways of worshipping which encourage people to be participative, and this in a 'whole' way. It's amazing to think that God invited people to contribute to this 'building' and it's interesting to see how important the setting was, the choice of colours, the size of the place, the organisation of the place. 'The Prodigal Project' makes the point that often we think of the place of worship as being neutral. This was certainly not the case for the Tabernacle.

I wonder whether the invitation to contribute can also be seen as a desire on the part of God that each of his people bring something to worship, to the relationship with himself and with others. None of us are passengers, we all have something to bring to the party, we all have a contribution that's important. But it must be given with a willing heart. The text doesn't say that everyone gave, only those with a willing heart, those that desired to do so. Perhaps it was everyone, but the important thing is that they were giving freely, not through a sense of constraint. And chapter 36 verses 6-7 tells us that there giving was so generous that Moses had to tell them to stop! Wow! In a physical sense, that's pretty amazing.

I was also struck by the detail for the Tabernacle, and the fact that it needed relatively minute planing! This reminds me of the work I've been doing with regards to my own life, in terms of setting short and long term goals. It looks like here they were micro-managing their project! The details are amazing. And I wonder if the fact that everything was planned, allowed everyone to know what was needed. And giving for a clearly stated need, is much easier than giving vaguely.

The passage also demonstrates the importance of planning, even down to details. And perhaps also that good planning is a way of enable others to contribute with a willing heart and generously.
Often people wonder what they can bring to a project, questioning their abilities and means. But if a 'project' is well planned and the details are well presented, does that make it easier to see where one can contribute?