Ezra 2:68-69 And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work three score and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
There was great joy and excitement among the people upon the return from captivity and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. They were so full of joy that they offered freely for the rebuilding of the temple. And they gave abundantly to the treasures of the temple.
Joy in the Lord’s work stirs up the heart to want to give generously and to offer freely to the Lord’s church and to His work of preaching the gospel. Hearing the gospel and receiving it gladly naturally stirs up the response of generous giving. We are so moved and touched that we want to offer freely and cheerfully give out of a cleansed and renewed heart. This same kind of generous response occurred when Moses built the tabernacle. It is similar to the willingness of the first believers to share with one another in the early church.