To the seemingly inconsequential...

My church here in Kissimmee has been going through a series that focuses on the Tabernacle and how Christ has now made us the tabernacle and his dwelling place.  One particular Sunday my preacher read an excerpt of Exodus 36 which is where construction of the Tabernacle begins.  

You have to understand who I am to understand why this has stuck with me and why it has impressed upon me enough to write about it.  I am a tech guy, I love going to concerts; sometimes if for nothing other than the lights and chest slapping bass that comes through the subs, I really could care less who is playing sometimes.  But I have wrestled with my passion for tech and a “good show” and how much of that should be included in worship services.  My generation is increasing the desire for more tech in Sunday morning worship and churches are beginning to spend more on A/V equipment.  For a long time I wanted LEDs, intelligent (aka moving) lights, creative prop/stage design, fog, haze, lasers (okay maybe not lasers), in services at my church.  I, at the very least, have always wanted to expand and take things to the next level of technical production.  But then I am hit with the memories of when my most powerful worship experiences have been…  They are usually with one acoustic and a circle of 3-60 people just singing their hearts out, not caring what they sound like, raising hands, swaying, etc. without amplification, without EQing, without any lyrics on a screen…  So why do I want tech so much in services?  Why has God given me so many opportunities to expand my knowledge and proficiency in the A/V world?  How do I use this to glorify him without distracting people by an amazing "show?"  I have wrestled with these questions for a long time, longer than most people would guess.

Anyways, back to the Exodus 36 Sunday.  Exodus 36 (you actually have to go back partially into Exodus 35) is about how God selected two artisans to oversee the physical construction of the Tabernacle and the articles that would be placed inside the Tabernacle.  God selects Bezalel and Oholiab to work, train, and oversee workers on what would become the center of the camp of Israel for decades to come(centuries if you count the time at Shiloh after the conquest)—even more than that, the Tabernacle was very model by which we understand how our own bodies are a tabernacle for God today as Christians.

Bezalel and Oholiab were, by Biblical standards, ordinary men.  They did not part seas, save countries from famine, make everlasting covenants with God, build a boat to save humanity… you get the picture.  These guys were just really good at carving wood, stone, working with gold, silver, precious stones, etc.  Matter of fact, it says that the Lord had put these skills into them.  These two ordinary men would be responsible for building (and probably maintaining) God’s dwelling place among Israel for the next few decades. 

God can still use my gifts in what seem unrelated to the kingdom to not only grow it but to make it something that leads people to focus more and more on Him.  The Tabernacle was not itself worshiped, it reminded people of God’s presence and was a place to worship and pray and focus on Him.  God takes ordinary people with seemingly unrelated skills and uses them for His glory--even tech guys.  

How else can God use your seemingly unrelated skills to help point people towards Him?  I really want to hear what stories you have or what ideas you have about using your gifts and talents, post them in the comments below.