The Daily Nosh – Ezra 8:28-29
Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Adonai (the Lord), the God of your fathers. Guard them carefully until you weigh them before the leading kohanim (priests) and the Levites and the leading patriarchs of Israel in Jerusalem, in the storerooms of the House of Adonai.” (TLV) Ezra 8:28-29
Nosh: Money that is contributed to God’s ministry or work must be handled with utmost respect. God views every contribution as holy. To treat what has been reserved for the Lord’s work carelessly or to feel entitled to freely appropriate it is to disrespect the Creator and invite His discipline and judgment into our lives. Respect and humility need always to be present in our interactions with the Creator, the God of Israel.