Chapter 31
At my age, and after having worked in many different places and traveled quite a bit, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly remarkable people. They come from all walks of life, from the humblest backgrounds to the most extravagant. I’ve witnessed amazing talent in many forms—whether it’s masons doing brickwork, roofers, road workers, electricians, or the people who master logistical planning to ensure shipments reach their destinations on time and in order.
One friend of mine, John, is especially impressive. I’m always amazed at how quickly he can take information from a meeting and translate it into countless spreadsheets, mapping out everything we discussed. When I learned he came from NASA, I wasn’t surprised. He has the unique ability to turn words and ideas into visual flow charts.
Each of us has a special talent or gift. Take a moment to look at your hands. These hands, given to you by the Father, carry a purpose. Whether your hands are used for literal work or symbolic of your other talents, like intelligence, the point is: they have a purpose.
However, many people discover their special skill but miss their true purpose. We often forget to ask the Father, “Lord, you gave me this gift. What do you want me to do with it?”
Most people use their skills in a practical way—perhaps as a means to provide for their families. But even in that, the talent still serves God, if we live as a light in the workplace. God has placed us in this time, in this moment, so we can be the light others need to find Jesus. So, how are you using the talent God has given you to serve Him?
In this chapter, God called two men by name to be the builders of all the items we’ve read about. What an incredible honor! But their talent didn’t end with the completion of the project. They possessed those gifts before the calling, and they carried them beyond the task. Even if they spent the rest of their lives making “ordinary” furniture, their work would still be a reminder—both to them and to those who appreciated their craftsmanship—of the wonderful grace God showed them in granting them that talent.
Through our talents, even something as simple as a chair or a spreadsheet can give praise to our Father in Heaven, as long as we recognize that it comes from Him, not from our own “intelligence.”
We should recognize and use our talents in ways that promoted the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Even when our talents no longer provide for our families, such as in retirement, our work isn’t finished. Every day the Father wakes us up, He has a plan for us to use what He’s given us to influence and bring awareness to a dark and dying world.
Bezalel and Oholiab
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills– 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent– 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand– 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.”
The Sabbath
12 Then the LORD said to Moses, 13 “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.
14 ” ‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’ ” [It may seem unusual that God would bring up this commandment again, but its placement here suggests it holds special significance. In the context of this chapter, it’s clear that God wants to remind us, even when we’re engaged in great work or a significant project for Him, not to forget to stop, rest, and worship Him. Often, we prioritize and elevate our work to the point where it becomes an idol. No matter how important the work may seem—and this particular section is certainly one of the greatest—God still calls us to pause and rest in Him.]
18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
