Exodus 36:5 And [Bezalel and Oholiav] spoke unto Moses, saying: ‘The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.’ 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying: ‘Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

I have always been thunderstruck by the magnitude of these verses!  Imagine the  favor the children of Israel had with the Egyptians that the Israelite slaves were paid to leave the country! Imagine, in their panic to get their country back in order, how generous the Egyptians were to the Israelites. Imagine the wholehearted generosity that consumed our ancestors, the ancient Israelites.  Imagine their fervent enthusiasm to see the Tabernacle built.  They embraced the task of building the Dwelling Place for Yah’s presence so passionately that had to be told to stop bringing their gold, silver and jewels!

As a believer, I have been in churches and synagogues since I was 6 weeks old. NEVER, EVER, ANYWHERE, have I heard a pastor say, ‘Stop bringing; we have enough.’ There is always a new project, a new need, a new fund, something that needs financing. Am I saying that the new project, need, fund or something is not worthy of support and financing? No, not necessarily. But I am wondering how much it takes to keep the members of Yah’s Kingdom satisfied, occupied, edified and catechized so they can be properly be spiritualized, humanized and civilized. Never have I heard a congregation say, ‘We are satisfied.’  It seems we are always looking for the next ‘mountain-top high’ experience, never satisfied with the daily routine. When is enough, enough?

This is a huge question coming from such as myself. I am not satisfied with a small Pesach Seder — so, let’s invite 100 people. I’m not satisfied with having 1 teacher come for a meeting — so, let’s have a 4 day conference with a cast of dozens. I say all this so you understand that my finger is not just pointing at ‘them;’ my fingers are pointing at ME as well.

But it all begs the question: Why don’t Yah’s people give until they are spent? Why isn’t His Set-apart place fully equipped? Why do we feel lack, at all? And what can we do to recognize when enough is enough?

In pausing to consider the questions I’ve asked, a few thoughts have surfaced. For instance, families nowadays seem to be run ragged with activities such as sports, dance, music lessons, martial arts classes and so forth. I imagine the house of worship becomes an extension of how we do things at home, so there is the congregation’s softball team, the congregation’s exercise class, the presentation for the next feast and so forth. Of the dozens of people in local congregations I know, only a handful have sought to study the scriptures in the original languages. Again, those fingers point at me too. We have become just too busy. Too busy for prayer, too busy for study, too busy to just sit and wait on our Father’s voice. It seems that we have spent ourselves on our lives (we consider our lives our own) rather than on the life Yah gave us (His life). So in spending ourselves on the things of this world, the stores for spending on His House, His World are down to mere reserves.

Today I ask myself, “What can I do to spend myself (my time, my energy, my financial resources) for Yah’s kingdom? What aspect of His kingdom am I best suited to sow into? What do I need to get out of my way so I can be on my way? What am I waiting for?

May it be for a blessing. –y