1 Chronicles 29:9 – Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
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The scene in 1 Chronicles 29 is a very impressive one. David is at the end of his reign as king. However, before he stepped down, he provided all of the building materials and blueprints needed for building the temple of God. And, as a sort of last royal action, David gave away his treasury for the building of the house of God, and he led others to follow him in giving freely for the building of the temple. Many people gave, and the treasure of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and precious stones to be used in the temple grew greatly.
What is beautiful to see is what is stated in verse 9 above. David and the people celebrated, rejoicing greatly, because they had all given freely to the Lord. No one held back. No one worried about their personal finances. All gave, and gave freely, so that the temple of God might be built.
Interesting, isn’t it, that people could on the same day give away all their gold and celebrate doing it? This teaches us something that the secular world will never understand. There is a true joy in giving, even sacrificially, to the work of the Lord. When a child of God gives freely to the work of God, that child of God is overjoyed. It is a true privilege to be allowed by God to give to his cause. He does not need us. He could accomplish his work just fine without us. But the fact that he includes us and allows us to give all that we have to him and his glory is a marvelously glorious blessing from God.
Check your own heart today. Do you have joy when you give of your time, money, or skills to the service of God? Does your heart find joy in sacrificing freely for the glory of God? If not, you need to take your heart to God for repairs, because the heart of one truly devoted to God will find joy in giving freely to him.
Dear Lord, I thank you that you have given me the opportunity to sacrifice and serve on your behalf. I acknowledge full well that you do not need me. I know that you can accomplish infinitely more than I can, and that you do not need my services to do your will. I also know that I am not worthy to know you or to give anything to your cause. However, you have graciously chosen to allow me to participate in your kingdom work, and for that I give you great thanks. Please allow me to serve you with all that I have. Please rejoice my heart when I give freely to your glory. Help me to know how and when is best to give to accomplish your purposes.
Pastor Travis Peterson 