Exodus 35:29 (NKJV) The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the Lord, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done.
In the Old Testament, one of the greatest challenges was removing “Egypt” from the hearts of the Israelites. For New Testament believers, the challenge is similar: to uproot any trust in mammon from our hearts. God created us with the freedom to choose—believers and unbelievers alike. Before we were saved, we made choices based on our own desires and understanding. Because we have to live with the consequences of those decisions made without God, we must choose to follow what the Bible teaches.
The Israelites had to decide whether they wanted to bring the freewill offering to the Lord, as commanded by Moses, for the building of the tabernacle. They came with willing hearts to offer different materials. While Old Testament saints were building the tabernacle as a temporary place of worship, we are building the church of the living God. Therefore, we are expected to give freewill offerings out of a willing heart for the development of the church and the preaching of the gospel.
Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Scripture teaches us that God is not mocked—whatever we sow, we will also reap. Some of the financial losses we experience, such as poor investments or unwise decisions, may be the result of sowing to the flesh rather than walking in step with the Spirit. As believers, we can either yield to Scripture and the conviction of the Holy Spirit or the works of the flesh. God, through His Word and His Spirit, continually calls us to choose life—to submit to the Lordship of Christ and walk in obedience. Therefore, the key is to yield to the Holy Spirit, be obedient to His Word, and deny the flesh.
We are stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. We may declare that God is good and faithful, but the corresponding action based on these convictions is giving. The true test of our dependency on God is giving from a heart of obedience, trusting that He is good. This is tested every time we give our tithe and are prompted to make freewill offerings.
Reflection: Are you giving with a willing heart, or holding back out of fear or trust in money? In your financial decisions, are you following the Holy Spirit or relying on your understanding?
Sermon Series： Our Free Will Offering
甘心乐意地奉献
出埃及记 35:29 以色列人，无论男女，凡甘心乐意献礼物给耶和华的，都将礼物拿来，做耶和华借摩西所吩咐的一切工。
在旧约时代，以色列人面对的一个重大挑战，是如何把“埃及”从他们的心中除去——不仅仅是离开埃及这个地方，更是脱离埃及的价值观与依靠方式。
对于新约的信徒而言，我们也面对类似的挑战：要把对“玛门”的信靠从心中连根拔除。
神创造我们时，赐给我们选择的自由——无论信徒或非信徒都一样。在我们得救之前，我们按照自己的欲望与理解作出决定；而这些在没有神引导下所作的选择，也常常带来相应的后果。因此，作为基督徒，我们必须有意识地选择遵行圣经的教导。
当年，以色列人必须决定是否愿意按照摩西的吩咐，为建造会幕献上甘心乐意的礼物。他们带着愿意的心，献上各样的材料。
旧约的圣徒建造的是一个暂时性的敬拜之所——会幕；而今天，我们所参与建造的是永生神的教会。因此，我们也当以甘心乐意的心，献上自由奉献，为教会的建造和福音的广传摆上自己。
加拉太书 6:7-8 不要自欺，神是轻慢不得的。人种的是什么，收的也是什么。顺着情欲撒种的，必从情欲收败坏；顺着圣灵撒种的，必从圣灵收永生。
圣经清楚教导我们，神是轻慢不得的——我们种什么，就必收什么。有时候，我们在财务上的亏损，例如错误的投资或不智慧的决定，可能正是因为我们顺着肉体撒种，而没有跟随圣灵的引导。
作为信徒，我们可以选择顺服圣经与圣灵的感动，也可以选择随从肉体的作为。神借着祂的话语和圣灵不断呼召我们拣选生命——顺服基督的主权，在真理中行走。
因此，关键在于：降服于圣灵，顺服祂的话语，并且治死肉体的情欲。
我们是神所托付资源的管家。我们或许口里宣告神是良善、信实的，但与这些信念相呼应的实际行动，就是奉献。
真正检验我们是否真实倚靠神的，不在于我们的言语，而在于是否能以一颗顺服的心甘心摆上，坚定相信祂的良善与供应。每一次我们献上十一奉献，以及当圣灵感动我们献上甘心乐意的奉献时，这份对神的信靠都会被实际地考验。
反思：
你是否以甘心乐意的心在奉献，还是因惧怕或对金钱的依赖而有所保留？在你的财务决定上，你是在跟随圣灵的引导，还是依靠自己的聪明与判断？
讲章系列：甘心乐意的奉献