All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded … Exodus 35:10

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 23, 2012): Exodus 35

Maybe one of the drawbacks of the professional priesthood is the expectation that everything in the church should be done by the paid staff. I get a little frustrated with churches that seem to have the attitude that all that they want is our money while they hire the workers that they need. I think it robs us of some important things that the rest of us have to offer. God has gifted all of us in the church, not just the paid priesthood. And I think that to take the opportunity to serve away from the gifted volunteer goes against the plan that God has for us.

God’s instructions for the tabernacle were very specific. The people were to bring what they had, including their talents, so that the tabernacle could be built and equipped. God had given a plan to the people, and he had given the means to complete the plan as well. They had everything that they needed - all of the precious metals, jewels and all of the talents needed to shape them into the things that God had commanded. And only some of the talents came from the priests. The rest came from the various tribes of Israel – the volunteers of God with other trades and jobs inside the community.

There is an old saying that says that “if it is God’s will, then it is God’s bill.” It means that God will never ask for anything that he has not already given us the means to achieve – both from a financial point of view and from a talent point of view. The big but in the promise is that we have to be willing to give our possessions and our talents. And we also have to be willing to accept the talents as a community – no matter whom it is that is doing the offering.

God has called us to be a change agent in the world. He has blessed us so that we can be a blessing in the world. And he has given to his church everything that we need to complete the task, both in the paid professionals and in the volunteers that fill the pews. And it will take all of us to complete that task.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Exodus 36