So why do we give to God? I think there are many good reasons but really the only one that matters. Simply stated, "God deserves our gifts." God is worthy of all our honor and praise.
David in our verse for today clearly understood that. In context, his prayer is his joyous response to the peoples gifts for the building of the temple and his joyous proclamation of God's glory. David proclaims,
"Yours, O 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, O Lord is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." 1 Chronicles 29:11
Yes God is great! and we give as a way of praising him! and this may be surprising but our generous, sacrificial and joyous offerings bring pleasure to the Lord in the same way that you find pleasure in a heart felt gift from your children. Our gifts are the way we say, "I love you."
Does God really need our gifts? Did God need such a lavish temple that was perhaps more elaborate and ornate than any other structure in existence? Yes! God is worthy and God is able to provide for each person who brought forth their Silver and Gold.
Oh how sad it would have been if God's people didn't respond to David's plea to give to the building of the temple. How sad it would have been if God's first permanent temple went unfinished because God's people didn't love him enough to fund it.
To ponder: What does my giving to my local church or to other mission causes say about my love for God?
Remember the amount of our gift is not as important as the heart of our gift. A sacrificial heart gift from one person to the next will probably be drastically different but whatever your gift is.... offer it as an expression of praise to the Lord.
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