1 Chronicles 29:6 Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 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.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
1 Kings 8:61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”
Exodus 25:2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.
Luke 12:48 Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Exodus 35:5 Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;
Proverbs 22:9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
For they had given willingly and with a whole heart they offered freely. This must have been a great day to be part of and witness the hearts of all men freely giving and rejoicing. This was not a tax by the King but an offer to the people to freely give toward the work that was to begin. Gold, refined sliver, iron, bronze, precious jewels were all given freely for the work that for the house of the Lord.
Presently giving is something that appears to be an afterthought rather than a forethought or something predetermined and purposed in and from the heart. That is where giving takes root, is in the heart. Out of the heart will a person freely give. Out of the heart will a person greedily withhold.
Scripture is full of examples of being greedy to the detriment of the person. To those who freely give they will have an abundance and to those who greedily hoard will never be satisfied. They will be forever trying to satisfy the craving for more. They will have no joy from it and it will become a burden to them. Withholding from fellow man is one thing but withholding from God is totally another level of neglect. A cheerful and generous giver has reason to rejoice and give thanks because they have shared what God has given to them. This is the point we all need to take to heart – we own nothing – we deserve nothing – what we have has been given and entrusted to us by God – It is not ours but we have been given free will to choose what we do with it. We can choose to be greedy and hoard or to be generous and freely give. Spending all we have so that we have nothing to give is robbing God. Be mindful of what He has entrusted with you.
