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the available

Hello, friends! I want to celebrate with you today about completing my fifth book from the Bible! I spent the past several months studying the book of Exodus, and something that stood out to me the most in this book were two men I never paid attention to before: Oholiab and Bezalel.

For months, I’ve been working through this book, not just looking at the miracles, plagues, and Moses’s leadership, but asking, “What does this mean for my daily walk with God – my work, my friendships, my school, my schedule?” And that’s where these two men caught my attention.

In the beginning of my walk with the Lord, I thought that the only way to truly please Him was to stay as close as possible to “church stuff” as I could. I thought being a “good Christian” meant filling my time with ministry; saying “yes” to every church, young adult, youth service and conference; and prioritizing evangelism and service roles above everything else.

Anything that pulled me away from ministry or serving opportunites within church – school, career goals, hobbies, even friendships – was instantly and secretly labeled as either “less spiritual” or a gateway for the enemy to get me off track of my calling. And while the enemy can use anything as a vehicle of distraction, he can also use a twisted version of holiness to make us feel like we aren’t doing “enough”. And then scripture introduced Bezalel and Oholiab.

Exodus 31:1-6, “The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Urbi, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to desire artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they make all that I have commanded you.”

Think about this: Bezalel and Oholiab were not prophets. They were not priests. They weren’t standing on a mountain hearing God’s voice. They were craftsmen. Builders. And yet God said, “I have called by name Bezalel…I have filled him with My Spirit… I have appointed him Oholiab…and I have given to all able men ability.”

For some context, in Exodus, Moses was appointed as a mediator between the Israelities and God. In order to hear from the Lord, and eventually come face-to-face with Him (Exodus 33), Moses was given the Spirit of the Lord. He was trusted by God to report back to the Isrealites with instructions, directions, revelations, reflections from Himself.

Moses wasn’t a priest, but His role throughout the Isrealites’ journey from slavery to freedom, along with wrestling for God’s presence after the golden calf worship and aiding in sacred worship to God through the construction of the tabernacle is crucial. His role is so important in so many significant and obvious ways.

But what grabs my attention is that the Spirit that allowed Moses to fulfill all the Lord willed for Him is the same Spirit that fell on Bezalel and Oholiab to build. The same Spirit that empowered Moses to split seas and speak face-to-face with God was the same Spirit that empowered Bezalel and Oholiab to carve wood and hammer gold. Exodus 31:6 introduces Oholiab saying God gave him “ability” to help build. God gave Moses the vision for the tabernacle, His dwelling place among His people. But He gave Oholiab and Bezelal the skills to build it.

I’ve spent so many seasons believing my love for writing blog posts, studying for an exam in college, encouraging people and getting to know their story was “secondary” compared to ministry roles like leading worship or preaching. But when I read about these men, I felt the Lord whisper, “Your skills are not random – they’re chosen.” Bezalel and Oholiab weren’t chosen because they had a title. They were chosen because they were available.

Exodus 35:21, “And they came, everyone whose heart stirred Him, and everyone whose spirit moved Him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.” Here is where the tabernacle building begins, and the Israelites are moving out of shame from their idolized worship of the golden calf to serving God. They were eager and generous, and all people brought skills, materials, and time. Verse 21 lays out the truth that worship is a response, not a requirement. And God used them just as much as He used Moses. Everyone had a part, and God made it Holy.

Whether it’s studying, writing, healthcare, teaching, or even being an encouraging friend, all are capable to be used as worship if you do it for His glory. The world needs your gifts just as much as the church needs a pastor, usher, youth leader, etc. Here’s the thing – Bezalel and Oholiab were not ordained, creditialed prophets or evangelists. They were just able. These men weren’t preaching sermons – they were hammering nails, but it was holy.

Maybe you know me and you know that I’m a “busy” person. What some people call “busy”, I call “full” because while my schedule is super packed and limited, everything I fill my time with fulfills me and lifts me up in a Godly way. I wake up at 4:15 am to have one hour of meditation/prayer with the Lord, I go to the gym, I walk my dog, I study for a couple hours, and then I begin my day with classes, work, cleaning, errands, meetings, and church. These aren’t things I feel like I have to do; they are things I enjoy because I know my character is reflecting more of Jesus, Who also had a very full schedule when He was on earth.

To make this post more realistic and not only theoretical, something I was praying about recently was balancing my schedule and role at my young adult church. For about nine months, I was on my church’s Lead Team for Outreach. Along with that, I was President of the church’s RSO at my college and organizing biweekly bible studies coordinated with the church. That’s three different titles I wore only in my church’s young adult ministry.

With my new job and a new semester coming up, I mapped out my schedule for the upcoming academic year, and it would be physically (and mentally) impossible for me to meet all the Lead Team meetings and be at service an hour before, along with my work, class, pharmacy school organizational leadership responsibilities, three bible studies per week, seminary, and doctorate level studying schedule. I had to make a decision to step down from the Lead Team.

At first, lots of doubts and thoughts from the enemy filled my mind. And isn’t it just like God to send me this message right when I needed it, reminding me that His focus has never been on my titles but on my obedience?

I went to some trusted friends about this decision, and one of them mentioned the song “Center” by Abbie Gamboa & Bethel Music. In the second verse, there is a line that says,
“Teach us to discern the moment,
When to serve, and when to sit here at Your feet
Keep us awake to what’s important
Just like Mary chose the better thing”

This entire song harps on keeping Jesus at the center in every area of our lives, and this specific verse stems from Luke 10:38-42: “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving… ‘Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I love this passage because Jesus never condemned Martha for serving, but He also never told Mary she should be doing more. Instead, He gently reminded Martha that before serving, working, or leading, the best thing we can choose is Him. Martha’s work mattered, just as Bezalel and Oholiab’s craftsmanship mattered, but in that moment, sitting at His feet was the better portion. No matter how good or important our work seems, the goal isn’t to do more – it’s to keep Him at the center of it all.

Ministry isn’t just about microphones – it’s about faithful hearts. This week, I encourage you to ask Him to show you how to use your gifts for Him – even if there’s no applause waiting on the other end, even if it doesn’t look “churchy”, even if it doesn’t look like serving with a title. Oholiab and Bezalel didn’t need to stand on a stage because their obedience became the stage for His glory.

Friend, if God could fill a craftsman with His Spirit to build a tabernacle, He can fill you to build something just as sacred—in your home, in your friendships, at your work, in your studies, in your serving that goes unseen and doesn’t get applause or maybe isn’t deemed as “holy”. He handpicked your gifts for a reason, and He gave them to you so you could use them for His name everywhere, not just within the walls of a church.

Hope your day is great today and I pray you feel empowered by this word!