1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

It’s interesting how much trouble we tend to have with this fundamental truth that David expressed. When we give things to God, or more specifically, to a church, we tend to feel like He owes us, or at least that somebody owes us something. How foolish! We certainly didn’t create ourselves, and though our effort was probably involved, any wealth we might have has come from outside of us. All we can really offer God that wasn’t His in the first place is love, obedience, and praise. David was rightly blown out of the water by how much he and his people were able to give for the construction of the temple. I don’t know what the financial calculations would be, but it was a staggering sum! As David rightly realized, it was evidence of how good and generous God had been to them. Material offerings are indeed useful for the operation of the church, but what God really wants is our hearts. If we are properly dedicated to Him, then all other giving becomes a joy and privilege. This doesn’t mean at all that we are to be passive. That’s the whole point of Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. We have come to use “talent” as meaning “ability,” but it was originally a weight, and applied to gold or silver, that meant money. With either meaning, we are accountable to God for what He has provided to us. If our stewardship has produced an increase, then it should be our joy to return it to Him. After all, we won’t take any of it from this life!

I have never had very much financially, but God has been very generous in terms of abilities. My stewardship of those has been spotty, to say the least. They enabled me to carry a clarinet more than a gun while I was in the Army, and I am certainly grateful for that. However, I haven’t touched either of my clarinets for over a year. I was delighted to be able to do the electrical wiring for this building, and I’m looking forward to replacing a defective LED fixture this morning, but that has never been a paid occupation. Simply the ability to walk is a gift from God. When weather and schedule allow, I try to do a 5K walk three times a week, taking pictures of birds and such along the way, and I very much look forward to doing that this morning. I need to be conscious in giving that to God, praying as I walk. That is certainly the way of blessing! I don’t know when the “expiration date” is on any of the abilities I’ve been given, but I don’t want to waste them. They came from my Lord and belong to Him, so I am to use them as He directs.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the delighted anticipation I feel about putting in that light fixture. Thank You that schedule and weather have coincided so I will be able to walk this morning. Guide in my interaction with that man I often see on the way, that he may truly understand that You love him and want to make him Your child. May I be a steward pleasing to You with every minute You give me today, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!