Focal Passage: Exodus 25:1-9; 31:1-6
Have you ever endured the credits following a feature film? Had I asked that question 20 years ago, the answer would most assuredly be no. Today, filmmakers have developed clever ways to keep their audiences until the last words scroll by.
What strikes me about film credits is the sheer number of people involved in the process, each with a particular skillset vital to bringing the vision of the producers and directors to life. No doubt within this field of specialists there are some who labored hard at their training while others seemed to possess a gift that propelled them to the top.
Exodus 25-31 is hardly detailing something as trivial as filmmaking. God instructed His people to erect a dwelling place in which He would commune with them.
His vision was laid out in meticulous detail, so meticulous in fact that no one man could accomplish the task. So, God graciously gifted those called to labor with the skillsets needed to build the furniture, craft the elements and utensils and weave the curtains and the garments. To others He imparted gifts of wisdom to oversee and to lead in the construction of the tabernacle.
God’s calling and God’s gifting work the same way in the church. The Bible teaches that Christ is building a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) and that He calls believers to use both their skillsets (Colossians 3:17) and their spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Peter 4:11) for the construction of that house in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).
What He calls us to do, He equips us to do. And just like Bezalel and Oholiab He has granted to some to aid in that equipping through gifts of administration and leadership – prophets, evangelists and the pastor/teacher (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Having been graciously equipped, we willfully and joyfully labor, using our talents and spiritual gifts, not to see our name scroll by in the credits, but rather to bring glory and honor to the One who has granted us the privilege of His presence.