Enough For The Job

So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work ⁵ and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." ⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. ⁸ All the skilled men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. (Exodus 36:4-8)

Have you ever heard someone say, “The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys?”

The Porsche car company is hoping that expression is correct. You see, Porsche has a new sports car prototype that not only has impressive performance, but it also achieves excellent fuel economy. The Porsche 918 Spyder has a top speed of 199 miles an hour and can hit 60 miles an hour in 3.1 seconds. Because it is a hybrid, it can also get 78 miles to the gallon.

Sounds like a great deal! Right? Before you go out and order one before its release to the public in 2013, you should probably know that the price of this new super-vehicle is $845,000.

$845,000 ... that's a lot of money.

I don’t suspect that any of you are going to rush out to purchase one or two of these new Porsches. Perhaps the money that you are saving in not buying a new car could be given to Epiphany or WLS or Shoreland or the WELS. Though you may not be able to give $845,000 to support the Gospel ministries of these institutions, I encourage you to do what you can.

In the Old Testament, when the tabernacle was being built, people gave what they could and there was more than enough for the task.

In the Gospels, when Jesus saw the widow put her two very valuable mites into the temple offering trumpets, He praised her selfless action.

In the Epistles, Paul commends the Philippians who gave what they could – and more than they actually were able.

We give in response to what God first gave us – His Son. God gave to us first and He gave to us the best. In His great love for us, He sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins. Through Jesus, God gives us the peace of free and full forgiveness. By the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of His Son, death is defeated and the way to heaven is open. A blessed life with God now and forever is ours by faith in Jesus. Jesus is everything for us. That is why the Israelites gave for building the temple, why the widow contributed her two mites and the Philippians gave out of their poverty. It was in response to what Jesus would and did do for them.

And the truth is, large gift or small, God can use the grateful donations His people present in thanksgiving to the Savior who gave His life for their redemption. God will use your faithful, weekly, regular and special offerings to accomplish great things in His Kingdom – the possibility of calling a second pastor in a few years at Epiphany; having one teacher per grade once again at WLS; the hope of building a chapel/auditorium at SLHS; the increase of home and world missions in the WELS.

All through you giving, supporting, praying, doing what you can, possibly even more than you can - then there will be more than enough for the job.

Of course, you knew that already, but I just wanted to remind the folks who are looking to buy one of those Porsche super-cars.                                                                             - Epiphany Stewardship Committee