King David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but the Lord told Him that it would be his son, Solomon, who would build the temple. Even though David would not be the one to build it, he made sure to provide all the materials that would be needed to accomplish the task. As part of that, He asked the leaders of the families, the officers and commanders and the officials of his kingdom to give towards this building project. But to start things off, David himself gave large quantities of gold, silver, precious stones and many other building materials from his own personal treasures. He gave abundantly and with a joyful heart. When the people saw David’s generous giving, they too gave willingly from their treasures. They collected very large amounts of gold, silver, bronze, iron and precious stones. Then David began to praise the Lord in the presence of the people.

In his prayer of praise and thanksgiving, he acknowledged something that would be good for us to acknowledge as well. First, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the ability that he and the people had to give generously. In other words, he counted it a privilege to have resources not for the people to keep for themselves, but to give them willingly for the work of the Lord. How many of God’s people today take a view of such things? Then David spoke a truth about giving that many people do not fully appreciate or understand. He acknowledged that everything comes from God. We need to know that and confess that. Everything, including the very breath that you and I are breathing right now, comes from the Lord. Since everything comes from God, David then came to the realization that whatever he and the people had given had come from God in the first place. In other words, they were just giving to God what He had given to them. It was His all along.

Sometimes we pat ourselves on the back if we are tithing and giving a good portion of our resources to God. We think that we have done a good and noble thing. While it is a good and noble thing, we need to keep the right perspective about it, because when we do, it is then that we can give the way that the Word of God tells us to give...cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). Give to the work of the Lord with a joyful heart, knowing that what you are giving came from His hand, which is the reason why you can give. And while you are at it, realize also that even the praises that you offer up to Him are given with the breath that he has given to you (Acts 17:25). Let’s take advantage of the blessing and the privilege that David found so much joy in and give to God what has come from His hand as a sign of our submission, reverence and adoration. He is worthy of it all!

Pastor Joey Vazquez