Week 37: Cheerfully Giving

Cheerfully Giving, Sharing Our Resources and Talents

By Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell (Guest Blogger)

Week 37

Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 25-29

Key Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:14

“But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (NIV, Life Application Bible)

David has made his son Solomon king over all of Israel, has assembled the people, and has planned to build the temple to the Lord. All of these chapters listed reflect how the people came forth to participate. In Chronicles 23:2-5, it says that David had gathered all the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites to be in charge of the work, to be officials and judges, to be gatekeepers, and verse 5 says that “four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”

David provided with all of his resources of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, onyx, turquoise, stone, and marble for the building of the temple. The scriptures go on to say that David was so devoted to this project that he then gave his personal treasures and the people followed suit. They gave willingly, wholeheartedly, freely. They gave of their wealth and they gave of their talents to glorify God!

David understood that everything he owned and all of his talents and that of his people all came from God and that what they had to offer had all been given to them by God. And he did not take this lightly. In Chronicles 29:19-20 he says, “And I give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided. Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Praise the Lord your God.’ So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the King.” The next day they gave sacrifices to the Lord.

And here’s my favorite verse here: 1 Chronicles 29:22: “They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day.”

What a building project! How they gave of themselves! Imagine what we could accomplish if we all worked together to do the same. When they shared their resources, shared their talents, and gave of themselves in worshipful living and praise of God, following his commands, and they knew they were doing God’s will, they rejoiced in his presence.

What a wonderful gift—to rejoice in the presence of the Lord! I want that for all of us, don’t you?