Skilled Labor in the Kingdom of God
Exodus 35:30-36:1
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. 36 1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.”
When we think of spiritual gifts, we often think in terms of what is uniquely spiritual or religious. For example, we will often say that a skilled preacher or visionary leader is gifted. However, we may not describe the ushers, nursery workers, musicians, or security team as gifted. Today’s reading challenges that notion.
Bezalel and Oholiab did not go up the mountain with Moses to receive the Ten Commandments. They did not shine with the glory as Moses did. But God’s word says that He filled them with both His Spirit and the skills to complete the construction of the tabernacle. These two as well as “every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability” were indispensable from the task which God had called Israel to do—to build a sanctuary that He might dwell in their midst.
Today, God gives gifts for the edification of a different kind of building. Yes, we are blessed to have the facilities that God has given us (and yes, we are in the middle of a renovation project), but the material building we get to use is not the dwelling place of God today. We, God’s people, are the New Testament tabernacle, and God is leading us in an ongoing construction and renewal process until Christ returns. We, like Israel, need skilled laborers for the building up of His body. If we will do all that God has called us to do, we must have more than just preachers and teachers. We need every member of this body that God has gifted with His Spirit and with skill to join in the work.
You, like those skilled labors who constructed the tabernacle, are God’s gift to the church, and you are indispensable from the work. How are you using your gifts? How can you put them to use?