Wednesday

Currently, I am dwelling in 1 Chronicles 29. The people of Israel giving to build God's House.

I thought it was so beautiful how King David, leader of the Israelites said in v.3 - "...in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already provided for the holy temple..." He then proceeds to be transparent about what he had given, not out of pride and arrogance... but with joy and thankfulness - as a testimony of how God had provided him to give so that the people would too be encouraged to give to God. And they did, very willingly. V.9 then says, "...the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly."

Subsequently, I love King David's humble prayer (v. 10-18):

"...Blessed art Thou, O LORD God of Israel our Father, forever and ever. Thine, 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, Thine is the dominion, O LORD, and Thou dost exalt Thyself as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. 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 Thee, and from Thy hand we have given Thee. For we are sojourners before Thee, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.

O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine. Since I know, O my God, that Thou triest the heart and delightest in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things' so now with joy I have seen Thy people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to Thee.

O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Thy people, and direct their heart to Thee...."

Of course, the prayer goes on much longer than this.



Who are we to boast and be proud of what we can give to God? It is He who first provided us, so that we may so generously give. If He hadn't, what would we have to offer Him?

Who are we to assume that our strengths surpass that of the rest... so that we can fulfill every need - which we are well able to? Doesn't it lie in God's hand to make great and strengthen everyone?

Who are we to assume ourselves the elect for a particular work, save we be truly called? And when He does call us, dare we hold back what He has provided us to give?

Humility in service confuses me quite a bit sometimes. I often struggle with it.

There's always that fine line in between humility and low self-esteem. In both, you regard others higher and better than yourself - although there are 2 contrasting outcomes. In humility, you don't boast because you are secure. In low self-esteem, you either boast because you are insecure or you just bottle up all the potential you have within because you fear that you'll never be good enough. And it is so easy to be insecure, when we regard others better than ourselves. It's just human nature. Remember Cain?

I am reminded of my own insecurities.

Only by leaning on God and looking to Him, we are able to be meek and acknowledge our nothingness apart from Him... and yet when called to offer ourselves, we pour ourselves out wholeheartedly - that we may honor God with the fat of the best unblemished lambs of sacrifice.

I believe this was so King David! "All this abundance that we have provided to build Thee a house for Thy holy name, it is from Thy hand, and all is Thine.." Such meekness in one great in the history of mankind, and yet such boldness to be passionate! So dead to his pride and so alive for God. I believe that the people were so very inspired and motivated to give - because they recognized passion when they saw it in King David. I know I would myself. And yet, they weren't intimidated to offer the best of their gifts, because King David was humble.

'...the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart...' This is indeed my desire... to truly rejoice when I have given to God - because I have done so out of pure motives, humility and yet willingness and passion.

And if it motivates others to do the same, the better. After all, we are called to spur one another on toward walking in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.