How to give of your best is something we should all strive for. We all want others to think well of us, but first we need to think well of ourselves. We need to see ourselves from the way God sees us. There are simple secrets of how to give of your best.
Selfishness Rules
We live in a world where every man does as he sees fit in his own eyes, just as they did in the days of the Judges, Judges 21:25. Selfishness has become the rule of the day, which is a sure recipe for disaster, as in the Days of Noah. It was this attitude that brought about the biggest disaster of all, when Lucifer, the top angel, reached for authority that belonged only to God, Isaiah 14:12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-16.
The day is coming when God will pour out His wrath upon the earth because of the wickedness of mankind, Revelation 16:1. The Bible gives us clear indications of how to give of our best and ensure we are not caught up in the Wrath of God.
The Sower
Jesus told a parable about a sower and the kinds of ground the seeds landed on, Matthew 13:18. He talked about those who are blessed of God and those who choose to remain unblessed.
There are three types of ground where the people remain unblessed. Then he told how the seed that falls into good ground also has three categories. These people yield fruit thirty-fold, sixty-fold and a hundred-fold, for they give of their best Matthew 14:23.
Moses Tabernacle
Moses Tabernacle reveals much about the workings of God and the way to give of our best. To understand this a little more clearly, we need to look at the three courts of the Tabernacle.
First there was the Outer Court that was entered through four pillars at the wide Gate, Exodus 27:36. The number four represents the earth, or world and flesh. God made the Way open to Himself for every single person on earth, John 3:16.
The Outer Court
In the Outer Court there was the Brazen Altar, which represented what the Son of God did at Calvary. The Outer Court was a blood-soaked place, where thousands of animals were sacrificed. Calvary was a sight of excruciating agony, but it was the price Jesus Christ paid to ensure mankind’s eternal salvation, Hebrews 7:27. We were bought with a price that is incomprehensible to the human mind, 1Corinthians 6:20.
The second item in the Outer Court was a Brazen Laver, where the priests ceremoniously washed their hands and feet. This represented the rite of water baptism for all who believe in Jesus Christ, Luke 3:3.
The Outer Court is where the believers bear a thirty-fold harvest. They are committed to being followers of Jesus, but not quite ready to yield full control of their life to a Sovereign God.
Holy Place
Only the priests could enter through the five pillars of the Door, into the Holy Place, Exodus 26:37. Five is the number of grace and it is only through the grace of God we enter the Holy Place.
The bible says followers of Christ are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. We are a people set aside for service unto our Heavenly Father. Here there is a sixty-fold harvest.
Furniture in the Holy Place
In the Holy Place there were three articles of furniture, each representing aspects of the believer’s life. The Table of Shewbread represents the written Word of God. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, Matthew 4:4.
The seven branched candlestick represented Jesus, who said I Am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life, John 8:12. The Light is essential in this world of absolute darkness.
Finally, there was the Alter of Incense, representing the believer’s fellowship with their Heavenly Father. The incense was to rise day and night, just as Paul said to pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
Most Holy Place
The Most Holy Place was the heart and soul of the Tabernacle, the place where God’s presence dwelt. Only the High Priest could enter there once a year, through the four pillars of the Curtain, Exodus 26:32. Notice that the Gate was wide, but the Curtain is narrow.
Again, the four pillars represent the flesh, for to enter into a real relationship with God means death to the flesh. It took the rent flesh of Christ and the shedding of His blood to bring salvation to sinful man.
The Ark
The only piece of furniture was the Ark, symbolically the place of the fully committed saint of God. As God looks down, He sees only the blood-splattered Mercy Seat, which represented what Jesus achieved at Calvary. Full forgiveness of sin for whosoever will believe.
The contents of the Ark represented what a person needs to give of your best and have a hundred-fold result. There was the manna the Israelites were fed in the wilderness, representing the infallible Word of God. Aaron’s rod that budded, Numbers 17:8, representing a willingness to faithfully serve God through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The two tablets of stone were the Mosaic law representing God’s immutable and unchangeable Word. Only Jesus could fulfil the Law and all believers are hidden with Christ in God, Colossians 3:3.
Pillars Pathway to Give of Your Best
While salvation and justification is instantaneous and eternal, the walk of a Christian is a process of sanctification. This is represented by the 13 pillars of the Tabernacle. Entry through the four pillars of the Gate is the first step in realizing that we need God’s gift of salvation.
By grace we can then enter through the five pillars of the Door and begin to enjoy fellowship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. However, there are still times of self-exertion and self-will, rather than God’s will for our life.
Only the few venture through the four pillars of the Curtain, for this is death to self-will and an earnest pursuit of a deep relationship with God. TIt is the only way we can have hundred-fold fruitfulness, for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will make Their abode in us, John 14:23.
To Give of Your Best
To give of your best means acknowledging that God is Sovereign. That He desires to be in a full covenantal relationship with each believer. This is a very private and personal walk between the Creator and the created. It is a life of full faith in a Holy God, who is I Am that I Am, Exodus 3:14. Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, Hebrews 11:6.
Jesus said ‘For whoever has to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him’, Matthew 13:12. It is not a hard thing to serve a loving Heavenly Father, who gave His only Son for our salvation.
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