God Is The One Who Enables Our Giving

   In our read the Bible in a year study, we recently completed the book of 1 Chronicles. One of the things we learned in that book was that David was the one who wanted to build the temple for the Lord. As the story unfolds we learn that God told David he would not be the one to build it. What stands out to me is that David’s heart and attitude remain strong, and I think you will agree as we dig deeper into the story, that David shows us what humility before the Lord is all about. Let’s take a further look at David in the story.

King David gathered materials for the construction of the temple for the Lord. He was a great man with a great heart for God (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). He didn’t think it appropriate to live in a house of cedar while the ark of the covenant was being kept in a tent (1 Chr. 17:1). After inquiring about the matter, he was told that he would not be the one to build a house for the Lord because he had been a man of bloodshed (1 Chr. 22:8). So, in accordance with the Lord’s instructions, David charged Solomon, his son, to build a house for the Lord (vs. 6). However, because of Solomon’s youth and inexperience, David began making preparations for what would be Solomon’s monumental undertaking (vs. 5). Before his death, David had accumulated “100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weight” along with timber, stones, and an abundance of highly-skilled workmen (vss. 14-15). In addition, David provided 3,000 talents of gold and 7,000 talents of silver from his own treasure and asked who would be willing to do the same (1 Chr. 29:4-5). The leaders among the people responded with great gifts of gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Those with precious stones also gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord (vss. 7-8). Then the “people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly” (vs. 9). What a striking example of Christ’s teaching as recorded in Acts 20:35, where He says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

David’s prayer in the presence of the joyful assembly is even more amazing. After offering praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, David asks, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from you, and from your hand we have given you” (1 Chr. 29:14, 16). What they had given to the Lord already belonged to Him. Even, then, their free and joyous offering demonstrated a state of mind and condition of heart desired in all generations (vs. 18).

God is the One who enables our giving! What a strong encouragement to approach our giving with profound humility, generosity of spirit, and joyful expectation!                                              Eric Paquette