Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
1 Chronicles 29:6-17 (NIV)
6 Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. 7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David’s Prayer
10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head overall. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, 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? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
1. For each day, read the text and write down one or two points that stand out to you.
2. At the end of the week, look and pray over your points, and pick one that stands out to you.
3. What will you do to apply that point/truth to your life? Write that out also.
4. Store your notes and application somewhere where you will find them again and see how you are doing in your application of that truth. Note on your calendar when you’ll check it.
Gracious God, You have been so generous to me. I have been given the opportunity to live in a free country, to work where I chose, spend what I earn in ways that I desire and have the liberty to worship You without fear of my life. Everything comes from you. Forgive me when I take my wealth for granted and complain that I don’t have more. I give thanks and praise to You for giving me all that I need and more. I thank You for opportunities to be generous with the material possessions that You placed in my life. Thank You for the opportunities to spend my time serving You through others. Through a life of generosity, I am filled with joy, contentment, and fulfillment that far exceeds keeping it all for myself. When I give a portion of my abundance, I still have more than enough for myself. I am reminded of how, in Your generosity, You gave it all; You gave Your very life so that I could have salvation. My acts of service and generosity are so insignificant in comparison. I pray that You accept them as gifts of love and thanksgiving. I give You my offerings of generosity willingly to honor You and pray that they bring glory to Your kingdom. Amen.