Reading
SAA Notes
Everyone gave to build the temple of the Lord – king, priest, Levite, citizen of ancient Israel. It is everyone’s privilege to give today to build the living temple of the Lord – minister, elder, member, adherent!
SJA Notes
“Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”
Here we see the joy that comes from sowing bountifully – God’s people rejoicing in their generosity.
We read in 2 Corinthians 9,
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
How wonderful it is that David the king reflects the reality of our KING IN HEAVEN – That He loves a cheerful giver.
Let us wrestle with what this means for us in our lives today. To be generous without thought of return, and to guard against the pressure to give under compulsion or reluctantly.
* Dear Lord God,
You love a cheerful giver – Please help us give cheerfully!
Please help us Lord to give of our time, our energy, our thoughts and actions and our speech – Everything of us, in whatever opportunity You bring – Help us to give freely without thought of return.
And please protect us Lord from bad doctrine, false religion, that breaks away from this truth You have laid down.
Amen.