From Thy Hand to My Heart
“11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11 NASB
I am so happy to be able to share this week’s reflection, having spent the past two weeks along with our church, observing a sabbath rest to stop, rest and remember the faithfulness of God. Prior to the sabbath break, our church completed its annual “Above and Beyond” campaign to encourage the congregation to offer a financial gift above what we usually give to enable our church to “step into a new season of belief and generosity beyond where we normally go.” Now, I confess that in the past, I have approached tithing and church solicitations for donations with skepticism and extreme caution, mainly due to the array of televangelists whom I witnessed growing up promising blessings, physical healing and wealth based on the amount of money one donated to their particular ministry, as part of what we have come to know as “prosperity theology” or “prosperity gospel.” Perhaps you can relate.
A little detour…..
It is important for all believers to approach any ministry carefully, praying for discernment regarding the teaching and vetting the ministry to ensure that it aligns with sound doctrine. (Acts 17:11) What is being taught by teachers of the “prosperity gospel” is contrary to what the Bible actually teaches. Though this is not the purpose of this week’s reflection, you will see that I have provided a wonderful article on the errors of the prosperity gospel below.
Okay, back to the message for today…
Despite the skepticism and apprehension, my wife and I, when we reflect on the amazing things the Lord has provided throughout our relationship and our lives, we realize that all that we have is, in fact, a gift from God. From every breath we take to the memories we make, all reflect God’s amazing grace.
“ 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”
This brings us to the reflection for the week, which comes from the twenty-ninth chapter of the book of 1 Chronicles, where we find King David at the end of his reign and nearing the end of his life, leading the congregation of Israelites in a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving and praise. Before we dive into the prayer and explore how it can be applied to our circumstances, let’s take a step back to understand the events that led up to this moment.
In 1 Chronicles 28, King David, now aged and ready to pass the kingdom to his son Solomon, calls the officials of his palace, the military leaders and tribal administrators to explain that though he had made plans to build a temple for the Lord, the Lord had rejected his wish as he was a “man of war” (1 Chron 28:3) The honour of building the temple would be for his son Solomon (1 Chron 28: 6) David then proceeds to provide Solomon with his plan for the temple and makes a generous contribution toward the temple from his personal fortune. In response, the rulers and officials followed his example and willingly provided for the temple from their own possessions. This collective act of generosity brings joy to the entire assembly (1 Chron 29:9) and sets up what I believe is one of the most beautiful prayers found in scripture.
Explore the word
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.
14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15 For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17 Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. 18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; 19 and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision.”
1 Chronicles 29:11-19 NASB
We can draw many valuable lessons from David’s prayer and the events that precede it.
I. God is the source of all wealth and strength.
The generosity displayed by King David and his officials was an act of giving back to God that which He had provided. Greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty, riches, honour, and everything in the heavens and earth are under His dominion, come from God and belong to Him.” (vv 10-13) David’s response is that of humble recognition of God’s grace. “But who am I, and what is my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this?” (v. 14) Rather than boast of what he and the people have done for God, in humility, David acknowledges that their ability to give back to God is, in fact, a blessing from God.
““But who am I, and what is my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this?” ”
II . The display of generosity acknowledged a complete reliance on God for security and well-being. “For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.” *The ESV version states there is no “abiding.” (v.15). King David refers to the people of Israel as “sojourners” and “strangers,” terms that conjure up a sense of fragility and describe their days as “like a shadow,” reflecting the temporal nature of man’s existence on earth. Despite the nation of Israel residing in the land promised to them by God through Abraham, David acknowledges that their existence and security depend upon their complete reliance on Him.
III. God examines the condition of the heart. The display of generosity leading up to David’s prayer reflected King David’s heart and the heart of the entire assembly. Verse nine states that the people rejoiced, having given to the Lord “with a whole heart.” In verse seventeen, King David states, “Since I know, O God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.” (V.17) God is not only concerned with our actions but also the motives behind our actions and the condition of our hearts when we act.
In Closing
Like many other churches, our church encourages our congregation to give or tithe in the forms of talent, time or treasure. Though we are not building a temple for the Lord, we are called to build up the church, which is not a building per se but rather a body of believers created for worship and edification (Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:25, Ephesians 3:21), and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to every nation in the world. (Matthew 28:19)
If you, like me, have ever wrestled with the idea of tithing or giving in the form of time, talent or treasure, I pray for the Lord to touch your heart as he touched King David’s heart and the heart of his entire assembly, recognizing that every good thing comes from God. May you be moved to give back what he has given you, and may your generosity reflect the integrity, uprightness and humility within your heart and before God. May King David’s prayer be your prayer, and as a result, may the Lord God be blessed and glorified.
Yours in Christ,
Brad
Resource on the Prosperity Gospel
5 Errors of the Prosperity Gospel by David W. Jones -The Gospel Coalition.
