The Will

The will is part of a person that determines actions and includes their plans, purposes, and intentions. The human will is not controlled by God. It’s free. He designed individuals with the ability to make their own decisions, whether godly or sinful, apart from Him. 

This is seen in the garden of Eden. After creating Adam and Eve, God placed them in the garden with instructions not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They disobeyed, and this sin resulted in death (Gen. 2-3; Rom. 5:12) and gave the rest of humanity an inherited sinful nature. 

Since the introduction of sin, God has continuously offered salvation (a return to eternal life) to mankind. He does not want anyone to die, but wants everyone to live (Ezek. 18:23, 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9). However, it’s a choice. He is love (1 John 4:16) and does not force Himself on us. 

The choice between life and death is highlighted with the children of Israel. Before entering the Promised Land, the Mosaic Covenant (the divine agreement between God and the nation of Israel) was renewed. Moses, the mediator of the covenant, told them:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

~Deut. 30:19 (NLT)

The Renewed Will 

When someone accepts the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, they submit their will to God’s in order to worship Him through obedience. In this way, they answer the call to holiness (2 Tim. 1:9) and allow their life to glorify God. Paul mentioned this in his letter to the church in Philippi. 

…Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

~Phil. 2:12-13 (NLT) 

Because the believer now has the mind of Christ, they are empowered to overcome their natural sinful nature and become more and more like Christ. But this is not automatic. The believer is still free to sin, so obedience to God is still a choice. 

Paul explained this to the believers in Rome. He wrote: 

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

~Rom. 6:16 (NLT) 

The Freewill In Worship 

The will also affects worship. This is especially evident with freewill offerings, the voluntary offerings of animal sacrifices, produce, or other objects. Freewill offerings have always been accepted by God (Lev. 22:18, 21-23, 38; 27:26; Numb. 15:3) and were also used for the building of the Tabernacle, Temple, and the Church.  

The Festival of Harvest

The Festival of Harvest (also known as the Festival of Weeks, the Day of Firstfruits, or Pentecost) is a festival that was part of the Mosaic Covenant (the law), but is still honored and recognized by some churches today. During this harvest, the Israelite community (including slaves, foreigners, orphans, and widows) was to celebrate God’s provision by having a feast. Freewill offerings were presented at this time. 

Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor the Lord your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him.

~Deut. 16:10 (NLT) 

Building the Tabernacle 

When Tabernacle worship was instituted for the Israelites as part of the Mosaic Covenant, God gave them specific instructions for how it was to be conducted. These instructions included building a Tabernacle and how it was supposed to be built. Per God’s instructions, it was to be built by the community with materials used from freewill offerings. 

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

~Exodus 25:1-2 (NLT)

After Moses relayed the message, the people responded with generosity. 

21 All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments. 22 Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. They brought to the Lord their offerings of gold—brooches, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind as a special offering to the Lord. 23 All those who owned the following items willingly brought them: blue, purple, and scarlet thread; fine linen and goat hair for cloth; and tanned ram skins and fine goatskin leather. 24 And all who had silver and bronze objects gave them as a sacred offering to the Lord. And those who had acacia wood brought it for use in the project. 25 All the women who were skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen cloth. 26 All the women who were willing used their skills to spin the goat hair into yarn. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and the special gemstones to be set in the ephod and the priest’s chestpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense. 29 So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord. ~Exodus 35:21-29 (NLT) 

Their offerings became so abundant that the community was told to stop giving. The workers had more than enough material to craft everything that was needed for worship (Exod. 36:2-7). 

Building The Temple

Freewill offerings were also used in the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. Though the idea for a temple was originally David’s idea (2 Sam. 7) and he made elaborate provisions for it (1 Chron. 22:2-5), it was actually built by Solomon (1 Kings 5:3-5). Not only did David contribute a large amount of his own goods for the building of the temple, (1 Chron. 29:3-5), but the leaders of the Israelites also gave voluntarily. 

6 Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. 7 For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron. 8 They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon. 9 The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.

~1 Chron. 29:6-9 (NLT) 

David acknowledged this generosity in his prayer that followed. He prayed: 

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.

~1 Chron. 29:17 (NLT) 

Rebuilding The Temple 

The beautiful Temple that Solomon built was plundered and destroyed in accordance with God’s judgment for the nation’s persistent disobedience. Many of the people were exiled. However, King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Temple to be rebuilt. His decree read: 

2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

~Ezra 1:2-4 (NLT) 

Once the exiles returned, some also gave freewill offerings for the Temple (Ezra 2:68-69). The people also gave freewill offerings to the Lord once the altar was rebuilt (Ezra 3:5)

Building the Church 

Freewill offerings were also used in the building of the church—the people who make up the universal body of Christ. The early church was very generous with their possessions, giving to the point that no one among them had any need (Acts 4:32-5:11). This “ministry of giving” (2 Cor. 8:1, 12) was evident in all the churches. When Paul spoke of this to the Corinthian church, he shared that the Macedonian churches gave willingly, even though they were poor. 

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

~2 Cor. 8:1-3 (NLT) 

Likewise, he encouraged them to financially support the church in Jerusalem as they’d previously promised, but “not grudgingly or of necessity.” He wrote: 

So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

~2 Cor. 9:5 (NLT) 

This type of giving is seen with Paul and the church in Philippi also. They generously supported him on more than one occasion and gave so that he had more than was needed (Phil. 4:15-18).