"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 over all. 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. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. “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."

1 Chronicles 29:11-14

Although God didn't allow David to build the temple, David didn't give up but prepared its work abundantly for he loved God (1).

David set an example—he inspired the assembly to give generously themselves (2-3). And along with the generous giving was great joy (9).

Generosity is a measure of thankfulness for God’s own generosity. David’s prayer in verses 10–19 is heartfelt. Words in verses 11 and 14 have often been used as an offertory prayer in today’s churches. Today’s temple is made up of people, but the need is the same: the giving of oneself, expressed by the giving of one’s wealth. So the chronicler is preaching to us too. We may not have the vast wealth that David had, but all that we have comes from the Lord and it is of his own that we give him. We can give him nothing that he doesn’t first give us—something worth remembering when we’re hesitant to be as generous as we might be! And then there’s the joy (9) and praise (20).

Closing Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for all you have given me—everything I need and more! Help me to be generous with those gifts, with who you have made me, with my energy, time, and resources (edited from Encounter with God).

* May God bless us with the spirit of generous giving as we do Joseph's Storehouse Project in GCMI (raising 1 million for the next 5 years) for serving our CMI missionaries, orphanage ministry, Christian schools and relief works.