Parashat Terumah (Offering)

Shemot (Exodus) 25:1-27:19

What are you holding onto in this world that is more important than God? Genesis 1:1 opens with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” God is the Creator of this world, and everything in it belongs to Him.

In this week’s Scripture portion, the concept of tithe is introduced when God instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel to take up an offering for Him, which He calls, “My donation (offering).”

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to take a donation (offering) for Me; from every person whose heart moves him you shall take My donation.”

Exodus 25:1-2

In other words, God was telling the Children of Israel to give Him a portion of what was already His from the beginning of time!

But there is an important spiritual principle established in this verse. From this scripture, one ought to understand that everything within this world is from God and for God. Oftentimes, we treat that which we have as ours; however, we need to remember that whatever we have has been entrusted to us for a very specific purpose: to glorify Him!

In addition to this, we can also understand something about God’s concern for the condition of our hearts. As His children, we have the honor to know Him, love Him, honor Him, and partake in His plan. This should bring us great joy! When the Lord said that each person should give as “his heart moves him,” He was acknowledging that each of us can choose how to bless Him! There is no “set limit” for how much we give back to Him. We are not doing God any favors! Instead, we give back to Him a small portion of what He has given us from a joyful, grateful heart.

Let us search our hearts for what motivates us in our walk with the Lord. Are we motivated by fear? By an expectation to receive back from Him? By love and gratitude?

He deserves our best heart’s attitude!

Shabbat Shalom,

Moran

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