“Now listen, with great trouble I have prepared and provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for they are great in quantity. I have also prepared and provided timber and stone, and you may add to them.” – 1 Chronicles 22:14 (AMP)
After the Lord had given David rest all around from his enemies, he had a good thought. He thought to build a house for the Lord where the name of the Lord God would be. He purposed to build a temple for the Lord but God sent Prophet Nathan to tell him that, because he had fought too many wars and had blood on his hands, he won’t be allowed to build a house for the Lord. However, the Lord made a covenant with him that his son, Solomon, who would sit on the throne after him would build the Temple.
Naturally, after hearing this verdict, David could have just forgotten all about it and act disinterested in it but he did what no one could predict. Because it was really in his heart to build the house for the Lord but he wasn’t permitted by God, he made abundant preparations that would make the work easy and possible for Solomon. He didn’t leave Solomon to figure things out by himself. David made as much preparations as he could before his. He prepared materials, resources and people beforehand.
Why did David do this? He must have though that, since he was not permitted by God to build the house, then it wouldn’t be bad if he made preparations for it. What a heart he had. All he wanted was that he would give to God out of the abundance of resources that the Lord had made available unto him even in his kingdom. David was a man who loved the Lord wholeheartedly and would go to any length to honour God. He laid an example for others to follow.
Whatever position you are right now, you won’t be permitted to do all that is your heart for the name of the Lord, but can you go out of your way to make preparations for those who will come after you, all to the glory of the Lord? He didn’t mind that his name wouldn’t be mentioned when the one who built the Temple is asked or talked about several generations to come. Life is not about only you, and to the glory of God, you must be willing to give abundantly for the course of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God.
It’s not about you receiving praise from men for doing whatever in the Kingdom. You are not opportune to be the face of that Kingdom project but you can give your resources for the success of the project. You are not able to go into the unreached people groups to preach the Gospel, you can give abundantly for the comfortability of those who would be able to go. Be a man like David who did not see anything he had as untouchable for God. He gave abundantly. He gave all.
Reflections: What preparations am I making for the work of the Kingdom to be carried out by those ordained to do them? To what extent can I give my resources for Kingdom projects? Have I ever given to God in abundance for His purpose to be fulfilled in a certain territory?
Confession: I am an ambassador of the Kingdom of God and I work for the purpose that this Kingdom finds expression on earth. I do not selfishly hoard what I have but I use them for the course of the Gospel. I am selfless and thoughtful in my giving to the Kingdom work.
Related Scriptures: 2 Samuel 7:1-29, 1 Chronicles 22:1-19
Bible Reading: John 17
