All the world watched as teams from many nations around the world competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Athletes who trained their entire life, seeking to win, so they could stand on the podium and hear their national anthem played. They celebrated, then took their medals home to share with family, friends and countrymen. A very noble and life changing cause.
Although a very few individuals were honored, it was in fact a team effort. Many nations brought hundreds of athletes to compete. First or last these athletes marched in to the stadium in Sochi, Russia, competed and marched out at the conclusion of the 2 week spectacle. By the way America took last place in the Curling competition……..ouch! 4 years to work hard and get better.
There was another team effort recorded in scripture that involved these 3 precious metals. Exodus 25 is the narrative of the early “Team Israel” coming together to build a mobile worship center. God had led the nation out of captivity in Egypt and the people wanted a central point of worship. Voila, God gave Moses the assignment to pull all the team together and do something spectacular. Build the tabernacle in the wilderness with very little team spirit (they were murmuring) and limited resources. Sort of like the Jamaican Bobsled Team!
Moses had trained all his life for this and other significant moments in the life of Israel. God gave him and Aaron wisdom in how to get the team up and running with this huge task. You guessed it – they began the wilderness Olympics with those three precious metals. Exodus 25:1-3a reads, The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offerings for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them gold, silver and bronze.”
The passage goes on to describe all kinds of gifts needed from the entire team but Moses started with those 3 biggies (gold, silver and bronze). He did that because he knew it would encourage others to give, yes it would inspire an entire nation. And it did as gifts like “blue, purple and scarlet yarn, ram skins dyed red and oil for the lamps came in.” WOW! What a menagerie of gifts in this total team effort.
Not sure God is an Olympic fan, since He loves the whole world. Who would he root for anyhow? As you grow your ministry, do what Moses did, start at the top by sharing your need for gifts of gold, silver and bronze. Bring others along with all shapes and sizes of other gifts. In doing so you will build a comprehensive stewardship program that has the opportunity and capacity to win. More gold, silver and bronze for you means more lives touched by the outreach of your ministry. More money (precious medals) means more ministry, now that’s a game with eternity in mind!
