The Overlaying of the Bars

And thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.) “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”
Real ministry is the exercise of a gift received from God through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Ghost, according to the ability which God giveth, and for God’s glory is not mere natural ability, however highly cultivated, or however fully recognized by human authority. It is something far more precious, more glorious, more important than this.
How vividly the Apostle Paul realized the truth so beautifully Set forth by these bars of shittim wood, overlaid with gold!
“I magnify mine office,” he exclaims; “not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.” “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the pother may be of God, and not of us.”
To sum up these various figures of ministry which we have already considered.
In the cherubim on the mercy-seat, in the holiest of all, we have set forth ministry in its heavenly origin and source.
In the golden candlestick in the holy place, over against the table, and by the altar of incense, we have ministry in the assembly, and in connection with communion and worship.
And in these bars of the tabernacle, uniting the boards together, we see ministry for the building up and compacting of the Church of God.