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Monday, November 5th (Day Twenty-Two)
Read:
1 Chronicles 29:1-20
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer
willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you."
Reflect:
I love David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29. The reason I love it is because he
turns generous giving into a privilege instead of something to dread. Many
people give because they are motivated by guilt. They say, "OK, OK, here's my
money. Please leave me alone." David says, "Who am I that I should have the
privilege of giving my treasures to God?"
Why does he say this? He says it because he remembers the key principle: He is
not giving his treasures to God; he is giving God's treasures to God. This fact
has worked its way deep into the heart of king David, so much so that he
marvels at the privilege of being able to give away money.
How would your attitude toward giving change if you saw it as a privilege
rather than a duty at best or something to avoid altogether at worst? The heart
is the key. If we view God as the giver of all things and see ourselves as
richly blessed by the greatest gift - his unmerited favor - we can say with
David, "Who am I that I should be able thus to offer willingly?"
Apply:
- What is your attitude when the subject of financial giving comes up? Does it differ from the words of David in this passage?
- How would your attitude change if you saw giving God's gifts back to him as a privilege rather than a guilt motivated duty?
Pray:
- That your attitude toward giving would more and more reflect the language expressed in this passage.
- That you would be free from guilt as a motivation to give and would receive great joy in giving back to God that which he has given to you.
