In the good old days, there would be one or two weeks a year when a preacher might preach a "stewardship" sermon, which was little more than an appeal for members to open their wallets and give - more. Churches have often struggled with money and pastors have given appeals to their people to be more generous, more faithful.
One thing that was often absent from these pulpit appeals was the spirit demonstrated by King David in 1 Chronicles 29:10-19, when Israel was overwhelmed with generosity for the building of the Temple. David did not whine or wheedle but set forth the joy and glory of giving, of investing in the things of God.
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?" (29:14)Is there any privilege greater than that of giving money, which is so often an idol and a distraction, to invest in eternal things? David realized this. So did Paul when he told the Corinthians about cheerful, joyful giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
David gives several reasons why giving is a great privilege and joy. In verse 14, he declares that since everything belongs to God we are just giving him what is his. Joyful, generous giving is a reminder to us that God in fact owns it all. It is a means of giving thanks and praise to God for his provision in all things.
In verse 17, David speaks of God testing our hearts. Giving - not the forced, manipulated, guilt-based kind that has been so often used in churches, but the joyful kind - is a marker of a pure heart of devotion for God. What greater privilege is there than to use our money to enable worship and the proclamation of God's glory?
Of course, the greatest reason to give is the reason David gave in verses 10-13.
May You be praised, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 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. 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. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.
It is great to give because our God is great, exalted over all things and the rightful owner and Lord of all that is. Giving is an act of praise and worship that demonstrates that we know that God is great.
Father, I thank you for the privilege of giving faithfully to honor you and make Christ known in the world.
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