"GIVING TO GOD"
Intro. It was David's desire to build a house where the people might come and worship God. Because of his many wars, God said that David could not build the house. God, however, did not say that David could not contribute the funds necessary to build the house, to draw the plans, and gather the materials.
I. CHAPTER 29 TELLS US DAVID'S GREAT GIFTS AND HIS GATHERING THE MATERIALS TO BUILD THE TEMPLE.
A. David declared that he had prepared with all of his might, or ability, to gather sufficient gold to make all of the instruments that were to be made gold.
B. Sufficient silver to make the things that were to be made of silver.
C. Enough brass to make the things that were to be made of brass.
D. Iron, wood, gems, and marble in abundance.
E. The gold and silver alone that David gave was worth over 35 million dollars.
D. David declared his motive for giving was his love for the house of the Lord.
II. THE CHALLENGE OF DAVID TO THE PEOPLE. VERSE 5B "WHO THEN IS WILLING TO CONSECRATE HIS SERVICE THIS DAY UNTO THE LORD?"
A. David is calling for them to willingly give.
1. This should always be the case in our giving to God. I should always give willingly.
B. Paul gave some rules about how to give.
1. As you have purposed in your own heart.
2. According as to how God has prospered you.
3. Cheerfully. "God loves a cheerful giver."
C. He also told them how they were not to give.
1. You should never give grudgingly.
2. You should never give under pressure.
3. Jesus added that you should never give for the recognition of man.
III. THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE TO DAVID'S APPEAL
A. Verse 6, they offered willingly. They were inspired by David's giving.
B. Verse 9, The people rejoiced for they offered willingly. They were giving cheerfully.
C. They gave with all of their heart.
IV. DAVID'S RESPONSE IN SEEING THE PEOPLE GIVE.
A. Verse 9b "David rejoiced with great joy."
B. Verse 10 "David blessed the Lord before the whole congregation."
C. The blessing.
1. Blessed be the eternal God of Israel.
2. Verse 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Yours; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all.
Verse 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Verse 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
Verse 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things have come from You, and we have only given to You what is Yours.
D. This is the truest form of praise. That which rises spontaneously from our hearts at the recognition of the goodness of God.
1. We do not praise God to get a blessing, we praise God for the many blessings.
2. In David's spontaneous praise we see first David's recognition of the nature and character of God.
a. He ascribes to the Lord, greatness, power, glory and victory and majesty.
b. He acknowledges that everything belongs to God. Everything in heaven and earth.
c. The Kingdom belongs to God and He is exalted above all.
d. In His hand are power and might.
e. He reigns over all.
3. What God has given to us.
a. Riches and honor come from Him.
b. He gives strength to us all.
4. Again David breaks forth in praise. "We thank and praise Your glorious name."
5. He is awed at the privilege of giving to God.
a. "Who am I and what are my people that we are able to give so willingly."
b. We should always see our giving to God as a privilege rather than a duty.
6. What we give to God is His in the first place so we only give back to Him what is His.
Vs. 17 - I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Your people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto You.
A. David said, "You try the heart." God looks at our heart as we give We read in Mark's gospel: 12:41-44
MAR 12:41 And Jesus sat near the offering basket, and watched how the people put their money into the offering: and many that were rich gave much.
MAR 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a penny.
MAR 12:43 And he called unto Him His disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, this poor widow hath put in more, than all of the others put together. For all the others did give from their abundance; but she of in her want did put in all that she had, even all her living.
E. We learn from this story that it is not the amount that we give that God looks at, but at what it cost us to give.
F. Bill Gates or Ted Turner might give a billion dollars, and it would not be noted because it cost them nothing. They still have their billions to to live on in complete luxury.
1. God will look with greater esteem on the five dollar bill someone put in the plate this morning, because that represented the loss of some extra little luxury this week.
2. Giving is an act of faith.
3. Years ago when I had graduated from Bible College and was heading out to Missouri on a evangelistic mission, I was at a missions conference and was prompted by the Lord to put my last five dollars in the offering. I had no idea where I was going to get the money to travel back to Missouri. What we learn from this lesson.
1. Giving should always be a joyful experience.
2. Giving should always be from a willing heart.
3. When I give I am only giving back to God what is His. He gave it to me in the first place.
4. Giving to God is a privilege.
5. God measures the gift not by the amount, but what it cost me.
6. Real giving is an act of faith.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
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