Exodus
chapter 31 begins with God telling Moses, “I
have chosen Bezalel… and I have filled him with the Spirit of God
and with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make
artistic designs…in gold silver bronze…stone and wood“.
We realize that God has equipped men to do the exquisite design and
workmanship on the Tent of Meeting and all of the sanctified
articles. This is not just a natural talent, but God-given through
the Holy Spirit. We often spiritualize God’s gifts and only think of
Pastors or singers or evangelists as having Godly talent, but notice
this is a construction worker. In fact, He goes on to say, “I
have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have
commanded you“.
We can minister to God and those around us in whatever field we work
in. Whether you are a student, a salesman or a scientist, you ought
to do everything with excellence. Your co-workers may not know where
you worship on Sunday, but they will notice the quality of the work
you do during the week. Colossians 3:23 tells us, “And
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord rather than for men“.
When our desire is to please God the quality of our work is higher,
people notice! If your attitude at work has slipped, remember that
your work is God’s ministry. Ask Him for a fresh anointing of His
Holy Spirit on your work.
Immediately
after telling Moses He has given the workers their super
natural-ability, He says, “Observe
My Sabbaths…for six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is
a Sabbath of rest holy to the Lord“.
Some of us need to be reminded of that balance, we have no problem
working with excellence, but we forget WHY. God Explains the Sabbath
is to be a reminder to us that our work is ultimately for His glory.
“It
is to be a sign between Me and the Israelites forever“.
And notice that God reminds us He gave us the pattern even in
creation, “For
six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and on the seventh
day He abstained from work and rested“.
The Law required six days of work followed by a day of rest. But
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do
not think I came to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I did not come
to abolish, but to fulfill“.
And Matthew 12:8 Jesus says, “For
the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath“.
Remember how the religious leaders criticized Him for healing on the
Sabbath? What was His reply? “It
is lawful to do good on the Sabbath“.
Jesus tells us, “The
Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath“.
(Mark 2:27).
The
apostle Paul reminds us that as Christians we are to worship God
EVERYDAY, In fact, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray
without Ceasing“!
Colossians 2:17, Paul says of the emphasis on a Sabbath day, these
“things
that are a mere shadow of the things to come, but the substance
belongs to Christ“.
WHEN we worship is not as important as WHO we worship. In Romans
14:5, Paul again explains that some people hold onto the Sabbath Laws
and we are not to offend the weaker brother…one man regards one day
above another one man eats vegetables only. We are commanded not to
put a stumbling block in a brothers way. Romans 14:15 puts it this
way, “Do
Not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died“.
So
let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of
one another”
(Romans 14:19). Build up someone else today.