Prioritizing God's Presence: A Journey of Generosity
Summary
Today’s passage from Exodus 35 and the opening verses of chapter 36 brings us to a pivotal moment for the Israelites. After the devastating episode of the golden calf, God, in his mercy, renews his covenant and reestablishes his presence among his people. Moses, now tasked with leading and discipling a nation of two million, begins to teach them what it means to dwell continually in God’s presence. This is not a one-time decision but a lifelong journey—a daily practice of putting God first in every area of life.
Central to this journey is the biblical principle of “first and best.” God calls his people to give him the first and best of their time, talents, and resources—not out of obligation, but as an act of worship and gratitude. The Israelites are invited to contribute to the building of the tabernacle, the place where God’s presence will dwell among them. Their response is remarkable: they give voluntarily, from willing hearts, and not under compulsion. This voluntary generosity is mentioned repeatedly, highlighting that true giving flows from love and devotion, not duty.
But it’s not just about financial giving. The people also serve with skill. God fills certain individuals, like Bezalel and Oholiab, with both natural ability and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, equipping them for the work of building the tabernacle. These skilled craftsmen are not only empowered to do the work but also to teach others, multiplying their impact and ensuring that the work of God is carried on by future generations. This is a model for discipleship and apprenticeship in the community of faith.
What’s more, everyone participates. Building the tabernacle is not left to a select few; it is a nationwide effort. Every willing person brings what they have—no gift is too small, no act too insignificant. This all-hands-on-deck approach is what makes the community strong and unified, and it is through this unity and shared purpose that God’s presence is most powerfully manifested.
When God is given first place, the result is abundance—more than enough to accomplish his purposes. The Israelites give so generously that Moses has to restrain them from bringing more. This is the fruit of a community marked by God’s presence: willing hearts, skilled hands, and full participation, all resulting in the overflow of God’s provision and glory.
Key Takeaways
- The presence of God is the true measure of success. No achievement, possession, or milestone can substitute for God’s presence in our lives. When we prioritize his presence above all else, everything else finds its proper place and meaning. The Israelites learned that even the promised land was worthless without God going with them. [01:07]
- Giving God our “first and best” is a spiritual discipline that shapes our hearts. Whether it’s our time, talents, or resources, offering God the first and best is an act of worship that acknowledges his sovereignty and goodness. This principle guards us from making God an afterthought and trains us to live with open hands and grateful hearts. [03:42]
- True generosity is voluntary and springs from a willing heart. God is not interested in coerced offerings or obligatory service; he desires gifts that are freely given out of love and devotion. Voluntary giving transforms both the giver and the community, creating an environment where God’s presence can dwell richly. [10:43]
- God uses both natural abilities and spiritual gifts to build his kingdom. Every person is endowed with skills—some by common grace, others by the Spirit’s anointing. When we offer our abilities to God and allow them to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, we experience multiplied impact. Moreover, teaching and discipling others ensures that God’s work continues and grows beyond our own efforts. [16:07]
- The church thrives when everyone participates, regardless of their role or skill level. No contribution is too small, and every act of service matters in God’s economy. When the whole community brings their best—energy, skills, and resources—the result is abundance and unity, and God’s presence is made manifest among his people. [26:49]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:31] - Moses Intercedes for God’s Presence
[01:42] - Discipling a Nation: Lifelong Journey
[03:01] - The Principle of First and Best
[04:20] - Building the Tabernacle: Hosting God’s Presence
[05:40] - Firstfruits and Biblical Giving
[08:11] - Voluntary, Heartfelt Generosity
[10:43] - Free Will Offerings and Cheerful Giving
[13:22] - Serving with Skill and Anointing
[15:22] - Common Grace vs. Spiritual Gifts
[18:07] - Discipleship and Teaching Others
[21:22] - Discovering and Developing Spiritual Gifts
[26:16] - Everyone Participates: All Hands on Deck
[28:09] - Celebrating Teams and Practical Service
[30:43] - The Result: More Than Enough
[33:06] - Unity, Repentance, and God’s Supply
[36:17] - The Glory Fills the Tabernacle
[36:54] - Marked by God’s Presence and Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “First and Best: Living in God’s Presence”
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### Bible Reading
Exodus 35:4–36:7 (ESV)
> Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. ... And every skillful craftsman among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; ...”
> (Read through 36:7, where the people bring so much that Moses has to restrain them from giving more.)
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
> “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
> “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
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### Observation Questions
1. What was the Israelites’ response when Moses invited them to contribute to the building of the tabernacle? ([08:11])
2. According to Exodus 35, who was invited to participate in the work of building the tabernacle? Was it just a select group or everyone? ([26:16])
3. What does the passage say about the skills and abilities of Bezalel and Oholiab? How were they equipped for their work? ([14:03])
4. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, what kind of giving does God desire from his people?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God wanted the Israelites to give voluntarily, rather than out of obligation or as a tax? What does this reveal about God’s heart? ([10:43])
2. The sermon says, “The presence of God is the true measure of success.” Why was Moses unwilling to go to the promised land without God’s presence? How does this challenge our own definitions of success? ([01:07])
3. The principle of “first and best” is emphasized throughout the sermon. How does giving God our first and best shape our hearts and our relationship with him? ([03:42])
4. What is the significance of everyone participating in the building of the tabernacle, regardless of their skill or status? How does this model community in the church today? ([26:49])
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### Application Questions
1. The Israelites gave so generously that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing offerings. When was the last time you gave (time, talent, or resources) so freely that it felt like an overflow? What would it look like to move toward that kind of generosity in your life? ([31:20])
2. The sermon highlights that true giving flows from a willing heart, not from obligation. Are there areas in your life where you give or serve out of duty rather than love? What would need to change for your giving to become more joyful and voluntary? ([10:43])
3. Moses called for everyone to participate, and no gift was too small. Is there a skill, resource, or act of service you’ve been holding back because you think it’s insignificant? How might God use even your “small” contribution in the church or community? ([26:49])
4. Bezalel and Oholiab were not only skilled but also empowered by the Spirit and able to teach others. Who has helped you develop your gifts? Is there someone you could mentor or encourage in their gifts this season? ([18:07])
5. The sermon says, “When we prioritize God’s presence above all else, everything else finds its proper place and meaning.” What is currently competing for first place in your life? What practical step can you take this week to put God first? ([01:07])
6. The principle of “first and best” applies to time, talents, and resources. Which of these areas is hardest for you to give to God first? What is one small change you could make this week to begin practicing this principle? ([03:42])
7. The church thrives when everyone participates. What is one way you could get more involved in serving or building up the church community in this season? ([26:49])
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Devotional
Day 1: The Presence of God Must Be Primary in Our Lives
The distinguishing mark of God’s people is His presence among them, not their achievements, resources, or status. When we prioritize God’s presence above all else, every other success or blessing finds its true meaning, but without Him, even the greatest accomplishments are empty. Like Moses, we are called to desire God Himself more than any promised land or reward, making room in our daily lives for Him to dwell with us. [01:07]
Exodus 33:14-16 (ESV)
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally make room for God’s presence in your daily routine this week, even if it means letting go of something else?
Day 2: Give God Your First and Best
God calls us to honor Him by giving the first and best of our time, talents, and resources, not our leftovers. This principle, seen throughout Scripture, is a way to train our hearts to remember that everything we have comes from Him. Whether it’s the Sabbath, our skills, or our finances, offering God our first and best is an act of worship that aligns us with His divine pattern and opens us to His blessing. [04:57]
Exodus 23:19 (ESV)
“The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.”
Reflection: In what area of your life have you been giving God your leftovers instead of your first and best, and what specific step can you take today to change that?
Day 3: Give Willingly and Cheerfully from the Heart
God desires that our giving—whether of resources, time, or service—flows from a willing and cheerful heart, not from obligation or compulsion. When we give freely out of love and gratitude, our offerings become acts of worship that draw us closer to God and reflect His generosity. This voluntary spirit of giving not only meets needs but also transforms our hearts and deepens our discipleship journey. [11:19]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Reflection: Think of a way you can give—of your time, resources, or encouragement—cheerfully and voluntarily this week; what will you do, and how will you make it an act of worship?
Day 4: Serve with Skill and Spirit-Filled Anointing
God equips each of us with unique skills and spiritual gifts, calling us to use them with excellence for His glory and the building up of His church. Our natural abilities, when combined with the Holy Spirit’s anointing, have a multiplied impact, and we are also called to teach and disciple others, passing on what we have received. Serving with skill and spirit-filled passion is both a privilege and a responsibility, and it inspires others to do the same. [14:03]
Exodus 35:30-35 (ESV)
Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.”
Reflection: What is one skill or spiritual gift you have that you can intentionally use to serve others this week, and who can you encourage or teach as you do?
Day 5: Everyone Participates—Unity Brings More Than Enough
When every member of the community participates—bringing their energy, skills, and resources—God’s work flourishes and there is more than enough to accomplish His purposes. No task is too small or insignificant when done unto the Lord, and unity in participation leads to abundance, joy, and the tangible presence of God among His people. The church becomes unstoppable when everyone is involved, and God’s supply meets every need. [30:43]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Reflection: What is one way you can actively participate in the life of your church or community this week, using your unique gifts to contribute to God’s work?
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