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I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously. —1 Chronicles 29:17
Giving is based on motives, and in 1 Chronicles 29 David listed the right reasons for giving to God. First, he spoke about his own giving (vv. 2-3). Leaders have no business instructing others to give if they themselves have not given! Second, David challenged the leaders under him to give, and they responded willingly. Joyfully they provided an abundance of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones for the construction of the temple (vv. 7-8). Because they had given freely and generously from their hearts, King David was filled with joy (v. 9). Third, David motivated the congregation to give. David reminded them in his prayer before them that everything comes from God (v. 14) and that they were only giving back to Him what He had given them in the first place. He then recalled the fact that they were only aliens passing through this world, using their earthly resources for a limited time called life (v. 15). Finally, David revealed that he had given with pure motives in the integrity of his heart, with no desire to impress or manipulate others (v. 17). That made his giving acceptable to God. Why should we greedily grasp for the passing things of this life when they will only slip through our fingers on the day we enter eternity? If our giving follows the guidelines David laid out, the Kingdom of God will be financed properly, sacrificially, and abundantly!
Suggested Reading:
1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30
Romans 5:6-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 19:18-19