Plundering the Riches of Egypt: Dedicating Your Worldly Gold to the Tabernacle

Fellow disciples, have you ever found yourself holding a skill, a piece of knowledge, or a degree—something you spent years acquiring in a secular classroom or a demanding career—and wondered, "What am I doing with all this?"

It's a deeply human question. We work so hard to be proficient, to gather the "riches" of the world, and sometimes those accomplishments feel like they belong solely to us. But what if the greatest purpose of that acquired wealth is not to build a personal "Golden Calf," but to build the sacred Tabernacle?

The principle we explored recently in Unshaken—plundering the riches of Egypt—is one of the most profound spiritual lessons for any of us who are called to be Internet missionaries. It reminds us that all truth belongs to the Saints.

The Difference Between Debt and Dedication

The story of the Israelites leaving Egypt is often framed as a simple tale of debt repayment. The Egyptians, having enslaved the people for centuries, are finally forced to give them jewels of gold and silver. It seems like a transaction: *We did this for you; now take your pay.*

But as the lesson beautifully shows, it's far more than mere restitution. The gold and jewels weren't just "paychecks." They were the *materials* needed to build the Tabernacle—the sacred dwelling place of the Lord.

St. Augustine’s insight was that we must take the best of the world's truth, beauty, and education and "plunder" it for the sake of the Kingdom.

Think about that for a moment. The world's finest achievements—the Renaissance art, the advanced scientific theories, the complex legal systems—these things are the "Egyptian gold." They are brilliant, they are valuable, and they are magnificent. But if we let them become the ultimate focus of our lives, they risk becoming idols. They become the Golden Calf.

Your Tabernacle vs. Your Golden Calf

This concept is critical for every returned missionary and lifelong disciple. When we are in the field, we are gathering knowledge and experience. We are mastering skills—whether it's public speaking, investigative research, or simply knowing how to answer a difficult question with empathy and scripture. These are the skills we "plunder" from the world.

The question we must ask ourselves, as we prepare for our own mission discussions or as we work in our callings, is: What am I doing with this gold?

• The Golden Calf: Using your education, talents, or influence primarily to build a life of personal success, status, or comfort.
• The Tabernacle: Using those same talents, degrees, and experiences to help others find the truth, to build up the Kingdom, and to feel the Spirit.

The Underdog's Favor and the Spirit

The video also highlighted something incredible: Moses, the ultimate underdog, gained respect not only from the Israelites but even from the servants of Pharaoh. Their view of him shifted completely. They went from booing to bowing. From hostility to admiration.

This speaks to the power of the gospel and the service of the Lord. When we focus on the work, when we are doing the hard, often unseen preparation, the Spirit does incredible things. Our efforts don't just benefit us; they change the perception of those around us. They change the narrative.

This is where the power of being an Internet missionary comes in. We can change the narrative in our own homes, our own workplaces, and our own online circles. We don't need to be physically present to be powerful witnesses. We just need to dedicate the riches we already possess.

A Weekly Challenge: Plundering Your Own Riches

This week, I invite you to do a spiritual audit. Look at your schedule. Look at the skills you use for your job, your hobby, or your social circle. Now, identify one thing—one specific knowledge base, one type of communication, one skill—that you can consciously dedicate more fully to the Lord's work.

How can the organizational skills you learned in finance help you organize a Book Club in HolyPlaces? How can the research skills of your career help you study a challenging passage for a Bible Study Group? How can your passion for history inform your ability to testify about the restored gospel?

Don't let the world's wealth become an idol; let it become an altar.

If you want to deepen your understanding of how to apply gospel principles to modern life, I highly recommend revisiting the foundational teachings in Iron Rod. It’s a powerful reminder that our faith and our intellectual pursuits are meant to be inseparable.

And if you're looking for practical ways to apply these principles, jump into a free weekly Disciple Challenge! We're building a community of disciples who know how to use their worldly gifts for eternal gain.

P.S. Need help figuring out how to answer those tricky investigator questions? Our AI Investigator, Davee, is ready to walk you through it! Check out his latest insights on handling difficult questions.