As I was reading from 1 Chronicles 29, I sensed that the Lord was encouraging me to respond to King David’s prayer concerning the building of the Temple. King David, a man of bloodshed, was denied the opportunity to build the dwelling place of Jehovah, but he was permitted to provide for its construction. The list of materials available would make any construction resource officer envious: gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, precious stones and alabaster in abundance. And this, by the way, was just from the coffers of King David.

An opportunity to contribute to the Temple building fund was extended to the tribes of Israel and they did not hold back. Verse 6 speaks of their willingness to provide; verse 9 says, “Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.”

Such generosity would certainly foster thanksgiving and praise. David said,

“Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

David asked a valid question, “Who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this?” The answer: “O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.”

King David understood that such generosity could become an issue of pride prayed the following:

Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision (1 Chronicles 29:17-19 NASB).

As I read David’s prayer, I thought of my own desires to honor the Lord. I, too, offer God all that I am and all that I have; I desire that this remain the intention of my heart forever. Lord, give me a perfect heart to keep Your instructions, to do them, and to build Your Church with those gifts You have afforded me. Amen.