1 Chronicles 29:1-5: a reflection

1David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house: 4even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses; 5of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be made by the hands of artisans. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to the LORD?”

As David prepares for the building of the temple, he does something beyond what was required. He had already prepared great quantities of materials; but now he gives from his own personal treasure, over and above all that he had prepared, and he tells why: Because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God. David's lavish giving flowed from affection, from a heart set on God's house; he gave from his own, beyond duty, because he loved. And then he invites others: Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself today to the LORD?

Notice the source of David's giving: affection, a heart set on God's house. He did not give merely what was required, or from the public store; he gave from his own personal treasure, over and above all he had already prepared, because his affection was set on God's house. His giving flowed from love, not obligation; he gave generously, from what was his own, because he loved God and his house. The giving beyond duty was the expression of a heart set on God; love made him lavish. And his own generous giving became an invitation to others to give willingly too.

That is worth taking to heart, for the most generous giving flows from love and affection, from a heart set on God, not merely from duty. We can give to God grudgingly, or only what is required, giving from a sense of obligation; but David gave lavishly, from his own treasure, beyond what was required, because his affection was set on God's house. Giving that flows from love is generous, gladly going beyond mere duty. Do not give to God only what is required, from mere obligation; let your giving flow from love and affection, from a heart set on him, as David gave from his own treasure beyond duty because he loved God's house. Let your giving to God flow from love and affection, gladly going beyond mere duty, as David gave lavishly from his own treasure because his heart was set on God's house; for the most generous giving flows from a heart that loves God, and love makes us glad to give from our own, beyond what duty requires.

Lord, as David prepares for the building of the temple, he does something beyond what was required. He had already prepared great quantities of materials; but now he gives from his own personal treasure, over and above all that he had prepared, and he tells why: because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God. David's lavish giving flowed from affection, from a heart set on your house; he gave from his own, beyond duty, because he loved. Show me the source of David's giving: affection, a heart set on your house. He did not give merely what was required, or from the public store; he gave from his own personal treasure, over and above all he had already prepared, because his affection was set on your house. His giving flowed from love, not obligation. The giving beyond duty was the expression of a heart set on you; love made him lavish. Take that to my heart, for the most generous giving flows from love and affection, from a heart set on you, not merely from duty. I can give to you grudgingly, or only what is required, giving from a sense of obligation; but David gave lavishly, from his own treasure, beyond what was required, because his affection was set on your house. Keep me from giving to you only what is required, from mere obligation; let my giving flow from love and affection, from a heart set on you, Lord, as David gave from his own treasure beyond duty because he loved your house.