Vineyard Church of Knox County
David’s Response to the Temple Giving Campaign
Did you know that King David had a similar experience as we did on our Commitment Sunday when he was gathering resources for building the Temple? He saw his people respond with great generosity, too. First Chronicles 29:9 reads, "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." In other words, they were preparing for a new work (the Temple) and gave freely and generously to God, just as we have. So, I can't help but hear the echoes of David's prayer as I reflect on what we've experienced this fall in our Poured Out Giving Campaign. David's prayer, found in 1 Chronicles 29, is my prayer today.
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.
David’s first response is to give credit where credit is due. He recognizes that the Lord is the ruler of all and the power behind the generosity of the people. We also recognize that it is only by the power of God that we are willing and able to give so generously to the Lord. It was not by our slick marketing or the outstanding presentation of documents (as practically valuable as they were), but by the Spirit of God that we responded so generously. God gets the credit!
David continues, “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 aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.”
All of it belongs to you. Notice David did not pray that all of it belonged to you, but that all of it belongs to you. We, too recognize that even though you’ve given over your money to the church in gifts and pledges, the money is the Lord’s. Every penny is His and every penny is at His disposal for His glorious purposes. The leadership pledges to seek the Lord’s guidance as we spend this money that you’ve entrusted to us. You can be sure that everthing we do to renovate the building and everything we spend will be consistent with the vision God gave us, the vision we clearly presented to you during the Campaign. It’s His money to spend as He pleases and we know that, in the end, His plans will result in greater eternal impact than any plans we may conceive on our own.
David’s prayer ends, “17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.”
This is my prayer, too, that we would continue from this day on with the same desire to pour out our worship and our resources to this great God of ours. We shift our focus as we renovate the building in anticipation of a spring opening, but our desire is the same: to live poured out lives for our generous God who has poured out His grace on us so abundantly.
Blessings,
Chris
