In My Delight In the House of God

1 Chronicles 29:1-19 King David leads the way in preparing for the building of the house of God. The people gather and give generously for the work and set up the next generation to do the work well. We are called to resource God’s cause on the earth through our generosity!

10 Big Ideas about giving to build God’s house

1. The church exists for the glory of God

    • When we give, we are actually giving to God, for His glory
    • Church can’t become too man-centered; we exist for the glory of God
    • God loves people and we love people, but this temple is not for man; it’s for the Lord

2. God deserves our very best

    • God doesn’t get our leftovers or spare change; he gets our very best
    • God gets our first and best; we’re bringing Him the best we can bring

3. God loves cheerful giving

    • There’s no arm-twisting, shaming, or guilting into giving
    • 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

4. Giving is an act of consecration

    • When a person is wholly consecrated to the Lord, it shows up in all areas of their lives: their schedule, spending, and relationships
    • There needs to be some level of intentionality about our budget that is impacted by our consecration to God

5. Willing hearts are beautiful hearts

    • 1 Chronicles 29:6 “Then the rulers of the fathers’ households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and hundreds, with the supervisors of the king’s work, offered willingly
    • John 7:17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself.”
    • God reveals Himself to willing hearts

6. A generous house is a joyful house

    • Joy is attached to generosity and generosity is attached to joy
    • When you get a revelation on God’s abundance, on sowing and reaping, on God building your house, on letting the river flow through you, giving becomes a joy

7. Giving recognizes God’s greatness

    • Start with the greatness of God: when you pray, when you plan, when you work through disappointments, and when you give

8. Giving back to God recognizes it all came from him anyway

    • Tithe and offerings recognize that all you have comes from God
    • When we give, it’s only a small piece of all He’s actually given to you

9. Giving is more about our hearts than anything else

    • Your heart and your money are attached to each other
    • Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
    • You spend money on what you love

10. Giving reaches into and creates the future

    • David’s great offering setup was to enable Solomon, the next generation, to build something great for God
    • We have to be thinking ahead to what’s next so that new people are reached for Jesus