Investing in Things Eternal . . . Being Blessed

In this celebratory message regarding stewardship and the building of God's house, Chuck Swindoll contrasts the risks of temporal investments with the guaranteed rewards of eternal ones. He opens with a humorous yet painful personal story about a time he and his wife, Cynthia, were "ripped off" by a con man selling bad stock. Swindoll uses this experience to illustrate that while earthly investments often carry high risk and regret, investing in God’s work carries a promise that "the rewards eclipse the sacrifice" [10–15, 69]. Swindoll anchors the message in two biblical accounts of fundraising: the Apostle Paul’s collection for the Jerusalem church in 2 Corinthians 9 and Moses’ collection for the Tabernacle in Exodus. He highlights that Paul, an expert fundraiser, refused to use manipulation, emphasizing instead that "God loves a cheerful giver" and that those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully [16–22]. Turning to the Exodus narrative, Swindoll marvels at the generosity of the Israelites. Though they were nomads living in lean-tos, they gave so much gold, silver, and bronze that Moses eventually had to issue a command to "stop giving" because they had "more than enough"—a proclamation Swindoll jokes is rarely heard in modern times [1, 40–41]. The sermon culminates in Exodus 40, describing the moment the Tabernacle was completed and the glory of the Lord filled the tent. Swindoll asserts that in that moment of worship, no Israelite regretted their sacrifice; they were "too blessed to do so" because they valued God’s presence more than their possessions [2–3, 63–69].

Message Key Facts:

• The Stock Scam: Swindoll recounts a story from early in his marriage when a man in a "striped suit" with a flawless brochure sold them $600 worth of stock. The man disappeared with their money, illustrating that temporal investments always carry the risk of being "ripped off," unlike eternal ones [11–13, 15].
• The "Giving While Living" Maxim: Swindoll quotes a rhyme he wrote in his Bible years ago: "Do your giving while you're living, then you're knowing where it's going." He encourages believers to experience the joy of generosity during their lifetime rather than leaving it all for inheritance.
• Paul’s Fundraising Strategy: Swindoll notes that Paul raised funds for the persecuted church in Jerusalem without "arm twisting" or "sob stories." Paul sent an advance team so the offering would be ready and not forced, ensuring the giving was done "not grudgingly or under compulsion" [19–21].
• The Tabernacle Inventory: Citing scholars like Ryrie, Swindoll details the immense value of the materials given by the Israelites in the wilderness:
  • Gold: 29 talents (over a ton).
  • Silver: 100 talents (approx. 4 tons).
  • Bronze: 70 talents (approx. 2.5 tons).
  • Total Value: Estimated at the time of the sermon (based on year 2000 markets) to be between $18 and $20 million [43–47].
• The "Stop" Command: The response to the building of the Tabernacle was so overwhelming that Exodus 36:6 records Moses issuing a proclamation to restrain the people from bringing any more gifts.
• Handel’s Messiah: Swindoll connects the "glory" filling the Tabernacle to his memory of singing Handel's Messiah as a teenager. He describes the power of the choir singing "And the glory, the glory of the Lord," illustrating the majesty of God dwelling among His people [66–67].
• The Core Principle: The central thesis of the message is: "When you invest in things temporal, the risks are high... When you invest in things eternal, the rewards eclipse the sacrifice".

Message References:

• Exodus 40:34–38: The climax of the narrative where the cloud covered the tent and the "glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle," preventing even Moses from entering.
• 2 Corinthians 9:5–8: Paul’s instruction on generosity, promising that "he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" and that "God loves a cheerful giver" [21–22].
• Exodus 36:5–7: The account of the craftsmen telling Moses the people were bringing "much more than enough," leading to the command to stop giving [40–41].
• Exodus 35:4–9: Moses’ call for a contribution from "whoever is of a willing heart," listing items like gold, blue and purple material, and porpoise skins [35–36].
• Exodus 38:24–29: The inventory of the gold, silver, and bronze used in the sanctuary [43–46].
• Exodus 25:8: "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them" (referenced regarding the purpose of the offering).

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll