Today I want to continue from my last posting regarding King David's command to Solomon to build the temple. Upon reading chapter 28 of 1 Chronicles, I wondered how overwhelmed Solomon must have felt by the weight of the enormity of the temple he had been called to build. Today I want to share what happens in the next chapter of 1 Chronicles.
The chapter begins by Kind David saying to the assembly gathered before him, "My son Solomon--God has chosen him alone--is young and inexperienced. The task is great, for the temple will not be for man, but for the Lord God. So to the best of my ability I've made provision for the house of my God..." 1 Chronicles 29:1-2
What a beautiful reminder to us that when God calls us to do something, He will always make provision for us to complete the task. No matter how young or inexperienced we may feel, God will prepare the way for us to fulfill His calling on our lives. We often focus on our past as the reason why we cannot be used by God. However, God is not concerned with our past as much as He is with our future and whether we will be bold enough to trust Him in every way.
Continuing in chapter 29 we read of the leaders of the households giving willingly to build the temple. These were people who were already giving their firstborn and their ten percent tithes. Verse 9 states the "people rejoiced because of their leaders' willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart."
Let's face it, almost every one of us is a leader in some way. It could be to a church congregation, a small group, our children, our coworkers, our neighbors, etc. When we are giving to the Lord, do we do it willingly and with our whole hearts? Our giving is not only financial but in our time and our efforts also. Do we go to church with excitement? Do we work with a smile or do we complain about every day of life Monday through Thursday? Friday we begin a celebration only to find ourselves dreading Sunday evening?
Our living for God should be evidenced in everything we do! God does not want us only on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. He wants our devotion in what we listen to on the radio, what we watch on television, and how we speak with our waitress in the restaurant. It may seem difficult to give up things you love, but this is why the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of our lives. Without Him, we will continue living in our flesh and only half-way living for God.
I want to leave you with David's praise to God after seeing what was given by the leaders:
"May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 11 Yours,Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.12 Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.
14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand. 15 For we live before You as foreigners and temporary residents in Your presence as were all our ancestors.Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.16 Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. 17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You."
The chapter begins by Kind David saying to the assembly gathered before him, "My son Solomon--God has chosen him alone--is young and inexperienced. The task is great, for the temple will not be for man, but for the Lord God. So to the best of my ability I've made provision for the house of my God..." 1 Chronicles 29:1-2
What a beautiful reminder to us that when God calls us to do something, He will always make provision for us to complete the task. No matter how young or inexperienced we may feel, God will prepare the way for us to fulfill His calling on our lives. We often focus on our past as the reason why we cannot be used by God. However, God is not concerned with our past as much as He is with our future and whether we will be bold enough to trust Him in every way.
Continuing in chapter 29 we read of the leaders of the households giving willingly to build the temple. These were people who were already giving their firstborn and their ten percent tithes. Verse 9 states the "people rejoiced because of their leaders' willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart."
Let's face it, almost every one of us is a leader in some way. It could be to a church congregation, a small group, our children, our coworkers, our neighbors, etc. When we are giving to the Lord, do we do it willingly and with our whole hearts? Our giving is not only financial but in our time and our efforts also. Do we go to church with excitement? Do we work with a smile or do we complain about every day of life Monday through Thursday? Friday we begin a celebration only to find ourselves dreading Sunday evening?
Our living for God should be evidenced in everything we do! God does not want us only on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. He wants our devotion in what we listen to on the radio, what we watch on television, and how we speak with our waitress in the restaurant. It may seem difficult to give up things you love, but this is why the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of our lives. Without Him, we will continue living in our flesh and only half-way living for God.
I want to leave you with David's praise to God after seeing what was given by the leaders:
"May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 11 Yours,Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.12 Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.
14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand. 15 For we live before You as foreigners and temporary residents in Your presence as were all our ancestors.Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.16 Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. 17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You."
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