SUMMARY. Ezra 2:64-70 The caravan was very large, and the many burden-bearing animals in the group would have been loaded with materials brought from Babylon for use in the upcoming work. The 900-mile journey would have been arduous, requiring a lot of food for about 50,000 people, in addition to the animals. They would have had around 8,000 animals, and the land they traveled across would have been quite vast, leaving behind barren areas temporarily as they passed. However, they apparently were not hindered during the long journey.
People who became wealthy during Israel’s captivity generously donated their wealth as freewill offerings. These offerings, which supported those traveling to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple, follow the same pattern as the contributions of the New Testament church. They were not tithes of ten percent. Whether it was animals, goods, or money, the amount was left to the giver and what they were willing to contribute to further the work.
The sacrificial giving of the leaders who offered what they could was a good example for others to give of goods, labor, or whatever they had. The physical destruction of Jerusalem and the temple site, likely overgrown with weeds, probably moved the hearts of the godly to take action.
This principle of giving to God aligns with the scriptural practice of the New Testament church. It differs because it is a response to God's grace rather than strict law. Proportionate giving reflects our responsibilities, while freewill giving is intended to support others' efforts. We are to give from the heart to God out of what He has provided us. The "ability" to give is left to us.
What are we truly capable of doing? What can we genuinely offer? Is there a standard that applies to everyone regardless of where they live? How is responsibility determined? Where do we even begin? We must remember this universal truth: “Man looks on the outward – God looks on the heart.” Our calling in life differs from others based on various factors.
Leaders are placed by the Holy Spirit into roles and places He selects. Leadership and wealth carry certain responsibilities that not everyone can manage. Leading God’s people forward is not an easy task. A person’s home location influences their culture. If one is from Bethlehem and the other from France, their cultural backgrounds differ. However, God expects each individual to give their best to Him. And He will use what suits each person’s ability.
Some people are able to dedicate themselves full-time to God's work. It’s not that they are more important, but in life, they discover — there had been placed by God inside them — a desire to reach out to others. So, God uses their ability to reach both sinners and saints to restore the lost. Others have talents given by genetics; some have gifts given by God, which they join with the gifts of other believers to serve the Lord. When all these are brought together and function properly, there is a beauty to see. The work of God advances; God is glorified, and lost sheep are brought into the fold.
Rebuilding what is lost takes time and can sometimes feel hopeless. Clearing away rubble to reach the foundation often causes pain. When we finally reach the solid rock that the church is built upon, we find it is strong and unchanging, even though debris has spilled over it. The ability God has given each person must be recognized and used. That ability can lead to condemnation if it is rejected. The challenge of faith is linked with ability; we must move forward with God, trusting Him to use what is ours out of love and appreciation for the Lord.
SOME LESSONS TO LEARN. The return of the exiled remnant follows the pattern of the original settlement. Those who returned inherited the promises of the covenant when they fully accepted God’s terms of restoration.
Those who respond to the Lord receive His blessing. In an assembly or any work the Lord is doing, there are places where God fits people to fill. Some rebuild what needs to be restored. Others teach the word of God, and some take the Gospel to different locations and are supported by those who share in their work. Every person’s role will be reviewed at the judgment seat of Christ, and each will receive what is due for the “things done in the body.”
When we labor in faith guided by the word of God and the Spirit of God, we do so with the goal of honoring and glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthening believers in their faith, and leading lost souls to saving faith in Christ through the preaching of the Gospel. Our hope is that there will be some gold, silver, and precious stones to present to our Lord.
Our relationship with God is confirmed when our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. A child of God knows God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we have a new nature, and is assured by the word of God that we can genuinely say we are saved and have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.