THE GLORY OF GIVING

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.  Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all.  Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:11-13 HCSB)

Grudging givers do not bless the Lord, bless others, or receive a blessing themselves.  Scripture says, “Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor.9:7).  Our giving is an opportunity to glorify God.  David saw it that way.  His heart overflows with God’s glory and this moves him to outpour in generous giving.

As we look at David’s model in 1 Chronicles 29, we see THE REASONS FOR GLORIOUS GIVING.  David was motivated by a deep affection for God and devoted appreciation for God.

So, we give because it is a matter of LOVE.  “Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I've provided for the holy house.” (v.3)  The Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.  David had this affection for God because of how God had blessed him.  He had risen from the ranks of shepherd to sovereign.  He had a delight springing from his gratitude to God.  So should we!  God loved us so much as to give us the greatest gift to meet our greatest need.  The Bible says that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.  If we love Christ and His Bride, we will show it in our giving.

Another reason we give is due to LOYALTY.  “Then the people rejoiced because of their [leaders'] willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart. King David also rejoiced greatly.” (v.9)  The Jews were loyal to the Lord, and that was expressed in their giving.  Loyalty is something in short supply these days, but it is something God values greatly.  Loyalty is keeping faith, staying true.  When you came to Christ you made a promise to be loyal to Him.  When you joined the church you made a promise to be loyal.  It is time for us to model our love and loyalty for all to see.  Have you set aside your offering to bring tomorrow?

We see another reason for this kind of glorious giving and that is a zeal for LEGACY.  “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You.” (v.18)   David wasn’t just looking at short-term benefits, but long term results.  His commitment is still changing lives today, as it challenges us thousands of years later.  Pole Creek Baptist Church isn’t just about today—but a thousand tomorrows!  Think about the sacrifice of our forebears.  We are enjoying the fruit of the tree they planted.  We abide in the shade of its branches.  It’s our turn now.  We enjoy the benefits of someone else’s sacrifice.  If the Lord tarries His coming, then we can leave a legacy of giving that will challenge future generations, and accumulate reward in heaven!

David’s example shows the reasons for glorious giving, but also THE REQUIREMENTS OF GLORIOUS GIVING.  The bottom line is that we discover that God requires the proper attitude in our heart more than a prescribed amount in our hand.

Glorious giving requires EARNEST HEARTS.  “Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly.” (v.6)  “Then the people rejoiced because of their [leaders'] willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart. King David also rejoiced greatly.” (v.9)  “I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.” (v.17)  Over and over, we see the text speaks of being willing.  David and the Israelis were eager to give.  In stewardship, our attitude is to glorify God, not gain recognition for ourselves.  Jesus condemned giving to gain glory for ourselves.  If you can’t give with an earnest heart—keep it.  Better still, pray for God to change your heart!

Glorious giving also requires ENTIRE HEARTS.  It says, “the gold for the gold [work] and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the Lord today?” (v.5)  “Then the people rejoiced because of their [leaders'] willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart. King David also rejoiced greatly.” (v.9)  “I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.”   There was to be complete consecration.  Heaven’s treasury isn’t on the verge of bankruptcy like our U.S. Treasury!  The Kingdom of God doesn’t need a bail-out like General Motors did.  It isn’t about the money.  God wants our heart!  As to what we consecrate to Him, God doesn’t want just 10% or 20%, He wants it all—our whole heart.  It all belongs to Him anyway!  “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand.” (v.14)  “Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You.” (v.16)  God isn’t glorified by half-hearted commitments.

David demonstrates the reasons for glorious giving and the requirements of glorious giving, and furthermore THE RESULTS OF GLORIOUS GIVING.    God did some glorious things as the people exhibited generosity.

INFLUENCE results from this kind of giving. 

“Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly.  For the service of God's house they gave 185 tons of gold and 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 4,000 tons of iron.  Whoever had [precious] stones gave them to the treasury of the Lord's house under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.  Then the people rejoiced because of their [leaders'] willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart. King David also rejoiced greatly.” (v.6-9) 

David and the leaders influenced the others.  Leadership is influence.  So generosity begins with the Pastor and the ministerial staff.  We can’t expect you to do what we aren’t willing to do.  It is hypocrisy to fail to practice what we preach.  Deacons, teachers and other leaders must be aware that the church family is watching.  If you’re committed, they will be.  This is why we ask our Deacons and Sunday School teachers to sign a covenant that includes a commitment to giving.  Parents are leaders of their children.  We need to teach them by our life and with our lips to grow up as generous givers.

INSPIRATION results from glorious giving.  “Then the people rejoiced because of their [leaders'] willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord with a whole heart. King David also rejoiced greatly.” (v.9)  The congregation was inspired to worship God.  When I don’t give, or when I give half-heartedly, I have regret, but when I give willingly I rejoice!  It is impossible to find a church that is generous in its giving without being glad in its worship.  The level of our commitment is going to cause us to lift our heads in praise, or hang our heads in shame.  As you think about your giving—is it glorious or grudging?  Are you cheerful or critical when you read this challenge?

IMPACT results from glorious giving.  “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You.  Give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commands, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.” (v.18-19)  David was a maximum impact man.  He impacted the people, his son, and has impacted the world.  The repercussions of his lavish love resound across the ages and will echo into eternity.  God can take what we give to Him and use it to change lives forever!  There will be a glory to celebrate in eternity as a result of our generosity on earth.

Did you know that every breath you take is a gift from God?  Every beat of your heart is a blessing from above.  If you don’t know Christ, God has spared your life and given you an opportunity to be saved.  Come to Christ today!  First, foremost and forever, He wants your heart.

Some of you, reading these words, need to rededicate yourself unreservedly to Him.  There was a time you were “on fire” and now are “lukewarm.”  That is nauseating to God.  Will you pray that God will rekindle your passion for Him?

Some of us need an attitude adjustment when it comes to stewardship.  Those of us who are church leaders need to set the pace.  We may not be able to give the amount that David did monetarily, but we can give with the attitude he had spiritually—and it is glorious!