May 30, 2023

Ezra 2:64-70 (HCSB)
64 The whole combined assembly numbered  42,360 65 not including their 7,337 male and female slaves, and their 200 male and female singers. 66 They had 736 horses, 245 mules, 67 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. Gifts for the Work 68 After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave freewill offerings  for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site. 69 Based on what they could give, they gave 61,000 gold coins,  6,250 pounds  of silver, and 100 priestly garments to the treasury  for the project. 70 The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some of the people settled in their towns, and the rest of Israel settled in their towns.

Andrew Ivey
Some of the leaders gave a “freewill offering” to restore the Temple. The uniqueness of the freewill offering is that it wasn’t required. There were many offerings required at certain times for certain things. But the "freewill offering" was a gift given wholly by choice to the Lord. They gave “according to their ability”. Each of us are in different situations with different resources. Regardless of whether you have much or little, we should all give to the Lord of our time, talents, and treasure freely and according to our ability. Before you struggle through the particulars of how much of each to give God, start with the main thing. God tells us in Romans 12:1 the main offering He wants from you is yourself. God wants every one of us to surrender ourselves completely to Him. When you do, you’ll be surprised how the particulars will work themselves out.