Giving It Back - April 23

Read 1 Chronicles 29:12-16

“Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given to you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.”

Reflect

Who is the actual owner of your resources? How does that impact your decisions about how you use those resources?

In the later chapters of Exodus, we read Moses’ account about the building of the tabernacle. The LORD commanded Moses to take up a freewill offering of building materials and the people of Israel were so moved to give generously that he ended up having to tell them to stop bringing their gifts!

Moses also reported that the craftsmen were specially equipped by the Holy Spirit to do the LORD’s work on the tabernacle. The people of Israel freely gave their time, talents, and treasures towards the project of making the tabernacle for the Lord.

Later in Israel’s history, the people again gave freely towards another building project. This time, they gave to King David so that his son, Solomon, could build God’s temple during his reign. The tabernacle had been a mobile sanctuary. It was basically a holy tent that moved with them wherever God led. Now, God commanded that they build Him a more permanent structure—a temple.

1 Chronicles 29 lists out all that King David and the tribes of Israel contributed to the cause. It was an immense amount of treasure! The outpouring of gifts towards the building of the temple prompted the Israelites to rejoice: “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.”

Today’s passage is a portion of David’s praise to God in response to the freewill offering for the temple. Notice who he credited with providing all of the necessary supplies—God! The people had freely given, yes. But David acknowledged that everything they had was actually from God. David even humbly asked, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?” (v. 14, NIV). The New Living Translation phrases it “But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you?”

Have you ever considered that? Who are we, that we get to give anything to God, let alone that we get to be generous towards Him? I think we tend to view our offerings as obligations. We have to give to church. We use resources from certain parachurch organizations, so we really should give them something in return for that. God gave us certain abilities so we really should volunteer to use those gifts at church.  And of course, every day, we need to check the “I read my Bible and prayed” box.

But David reminds us that all things come from God. If God hadn’t given us life, we wouldn’t be here and we’d have no time on earth to serve Him. If He hadn’t given us any money, we’d have nothing to put in the offering plate. If He hadn’t provided food for us, we couldn’t invite our neighbors over for dinner or give to a food pantry. If He hadn’t equipped us, even with just our basic abilities, we wouldn’t be able to do any kind of good work for Him. And, if God hadn’t revealed Himself to us, we’d never have the opportunity to spend time with Him in His Word or in prayer. We wouldn’t know Him at all.

May we never forget that everything we have is from the hand of God—all of our time, all of our talents, and all of our treasure are ultimately His. We are merely His stewards who have the immense honor and privilege to give it back to Him.

Respond

Lord, I confess that sometimes I forget that everything I have is really Yours. Without You, I am nothing and I have nothing. Who am I that I can give anything to You? But I thank and praise You for being so generous towards me. Thank You for the opportunity to give the resources You’ve given me back to You. Amen.

Reveal

What's your attitude towards giving? How are you supporting the Lord's work through your time, talents and treasure? Find one way you can give back to Him.