Take Two: Exodus 31, Proverbs 13
There are two basic elements in this chapter. First, God establishes skilled craftsmen to oversee the construction making of implements of the Tabernacle. Notice that God called “by name” those whom He had appointed and filled them with His Spirit that they would be skilled to accomplish the task. This indwelling (v.3) gave them knowledge, wisdom, and understanding across multiple disciplines.
This ties a bit to my Message on Sunday…but here is the preview. God gifts them individually for service to Him and to other corporately. Their skills/gifts are intentionally granted so that they might serve the congregation.
As we will discuss this weekend, every person…as a believer…is gifted/skilled with certain spiritual gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ. What is neat is that these skills don’t necessarily look like preaching and teaching or prophesy or mercy. They are for some…mechanical aptitude, logical thinking, musical skills, computer skills, patience with children, and so forth. Each one is gifted according to a master design that God has…for His own purpose to His own glory. They are not the product of some evolutionary process…but are given specifically…by name…to those whom He chooses.
Question: What do you do with your spiritual gift to build up the Body of Christ RIGHT NOW?
(See, you got me preaching already. 
).
The Second element is the admonition concerning the Sabbath. Certainly this is appropriate since God has just given chapters of information about work to be done. Even in the midst of everything He said…He stops to point out that nothing is to violate the Sabbath, because “it is a sign between [God] and [the people]” (v.13, 17).
Beyond the obvious regarding the Sabbath, I am mindful of how I allow my own logic to override clear principles in Scripture. For instance, when I read about the Sabbath, I immediately began considering those who work on Sunday because they have to. Many are required…by the nature of their job to work on what they would consider “the Sabbath.” So, my tendency is to begin compromising on the principle and stating that “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” while “meaning” on the inside…I don’t know how to reconcile this principle with my human experience. When that happens…I am supposed to go with the PRINCIPLE and trust, by faith, that it is more informative than my HUMAN EXPERIENCE. So, what does this mean?
It means that everyone should take a Sabbath. It should be a day of rest. If not on a Sunday, then on some day. To override this principle and to work “7 days a week” is to display a sign to God that we do not trust His provision. To work every day is to disobey the principle and to demonstrate a lack of faith. (Now, I think this approach can be applied to many areas of my life. How about you?)
Then in v.18, God gives Moses the two tablets which He inscribed supernaturally and Moses heads down the mountain. (Tomorrow it gets interesting so don’t miss it.)
Proverbs 13:1 is the takeaway today. “A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”
kamatu said,
November 13, 2009 at 10:34 am
I agree that the gifts don’t have to be some kind of spiritual thing. In the parable of the talents, the point wasn’t what the talents were, but the use the one given them used them for. One thing I notice (and have been guilty of) is that people find something, claim it as their “gift” (which it may be) and then refuse to do anything else or proceed further, since they have their “gift”, so they can do that well and sit down where they are at.
I’m sorry, that is NOT where it ends, that is where it BEGINS. See Ephesians 4:11-16. We all have gifts (“talents”), but those that pleased their Master used their gifts (“talents”) to expand on them. We are all to grow in Christ and assume greater responsibilities and duties as our maturity in Christ grows. NOT sit and relish the fact that our “gift” is only this one thing and that is all we ever need to do as a Christian.