From Your Hand

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 29; Acts 2:25-47


1 Chronicles 29:16 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

God didn't allow David to build the temple so David set about to get as much of the material as he could to help his son accomplish the building project. When David put the word out the people responded and gave so much that it amazed David and he began to worship the Lord with a psalm.

What David declared was something we need to remember ourselves, that God provides all that we have. David was overjoyed at the response of the people but he was careful to proclaim that God was the one who provided everything that was given. Yes it was a sacrifice by the people but more than that this abundant giving was a an act of faith that demonstrated their trust in God's provision. It's easy to think of our giving as generous and helpful and we like to be appreciated. But it's easy to go beyond that and start to think that we're sacrificing a lot and start to hedge on our generosity but it's a good reminder that God is the one who provided everything that we have in the first place.