Restrained from Bringing More

The Scriptures tell of a problem churches in today's culture can only dream of having"

5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done."
6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Exodus 36:5-7 (New International Version)

Let me get this straight: the people had given so much to God's work that Moses had to issue an edict restraining them from bringing more. In our greedy culture, such a situation is unthinkable. I have never heard of a church or ministry ever telling its congregation to stop giving money.

I wonder what the harm would have been in the people giving more than was necessary? Would they really give so much that they would become destitute? There must have been some reason for Moses to forbid more donations.

Can you even imagine that level of giving? I still consider my tithe a "bill," a responsibility. I don't take joy in tithing. I do not feel called to give beyond a tithe. Maybe it is fear that we will not have enough left over. Maybe I just greedily want to keep more for myself.

This post was inspired by the book "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn.