People in Ministry (5)
Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. Exodus 36.2, 3
Moses as leader
People whose hearts have begun to be stirred for ministry will be ready to give themselves in service, according to their sense of the Presence and mercy of God and the vision cast for them by their appointed leaders. But those leaders must be gifted for the work to which they are calling the Lord’s people and faithful examples of the kind of people in ministry God is calling us to be.
Consider Moses: Here was a man concerning whose character and calling none had any doubt. Moses walked with God. He was zealous for God’s glory and eager for God’s people to walk in holiness. Moses was a man, as everyone could see, who spent time with God in the most intimate fellowship, and whose life, as a result, reflected the glory of God in striking ways. When Moses declared to the people the vision of God’s calling for them, they had no doubt this word had come directly from the Lord.
Moses knew the Lord, and he walked with the Lord; the people were willing to hear and follow him because of the kind of man he was in his relationship with God.
God’s people will be more likely to take up the work of ministry if they see in those who lead them a readiness and ability to go before them and lead the way.
Leaders to follow
Bezalel and Aholiab, similarly, were men filled with the Spirit of the living God: “And Moses said to the children of Israel, ‘See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan’” (Ex. 35.30-34).
These men possessed intelligence, knowledge, and excellent skills, both to do the work of the tabernacle and to teach others to do it as well (Ex. 35.34). Moreover, they were men whose own hearts were stirred for this great work of ministry (Ex. 36.2). Here were men who knew the LORD, were gifted by Him for the work of ministry, and who were eager to do whatever the LORD called them to do with the talents He had given them.
These are the kind of leaders a people whose hearts are stirred for ministry will be willing to follow.
With these two were also other craftsmen whose hearts were stirred to serve the Lord, so that, from Moses to the goldsmiths to the seamstresses, carpenters, rope-makers, and jewelers, a strong contingent of spiritual and gifted men and women rose up to lead the people to the work God had appointed them.
When people see such people, whose lives they know and admire, rising up to give themselves to the work of the Lord Jesus in building His Church, they cannot help, as their hearts are being stirred, but want to be involved with them in whatever work the Lord has appointed for them.
As the leaders, so the people
If we want people to be willing, eager, active, and effective servants of the Lord in ministry, then the leaders who stand before them must be such people as well—men and women of true spirituality, compelling vision, and proven gifts whose lives radiate the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit of the Kingdom of God.
God can work individually to grow and equip people for leadership, but He normally works through leaders. The leaders God uses to stir and enlist His people will identify their own gifts and hone them to the highest level of skill. They will be ready to embrace the Lord’s vision and to urge it on others; and they will stand forth before the people of God, ready to do the work and to equip and lead others to do it as well.
Gifted and exemplary leaders are essential to helping those whose hearts the Lord is stirring for ministry to find their place of service. We will not succeed in motivating people to take up the work of building the Lord’s house if they have no one to lead them.
Let us earnestly call upon the Lord to raise up leaders whom we can follow in all manner of works of ministry. And when the opportunity to be prepared for leadership arises, let us step forward and say, “Here am I; send me!”
For reflection
1. How can you recognize a true leader? What attributes can you identify?
2. J. I. Packer wrote that for every believer, “there is always someone to lead” (Finishing Our Course with Joy). Whom are you leading? Do you need to improve as a leader? In what ways?
3. How should you pray for the leaders of your church?
Next steps—Preparation: Begin praying for the leaders in your church, that they will lead by example and will equip church members to be a people in minisitry.T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues an extensive look at the Kingdom of God in our book, The Kingdom Turn. In our Crosfigell teaching letter, we are looking at the state of pastors and churches during the period of the Celtic Revival, using contemporary witnesses. And in our Scriptorium column we are studying the sermon on the mount. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter
