The Encourager
“DAVID, A GREAT STEWARD OF GOD by Mike Richardson”
I sometimes wonder just how much David had growing up. Was Jesse his father a wealthy man? I am led to believe that he may have grown up in a modest home. The family had sheep, but could not afford a hireling to watch over them. David being the youngest son was delegated the job of watching the sheep. I know David had a sling and a harp, but I wonder just how much he had in the days of his youth. Then we see that he becomes king of Israel and becomes wealthy beyond our imagination. He lived in a palace and had all that his heart desired. However, let us notice David was still a good steward from I Chronicles 28 and 29.
(i)DAVID LIVED IN A PALACE, GOD’S ARK WAS IN A TENT. David was not blind to the fact that while he had a palace the ark of the covenant was still housed in a tent. David thought, “How is it I live in a palace and the ark of the covenant which represents Israel’s covenant with God is still in a tent?” David reasoned within himself that he would build a temple to house the ark of the covenant.
(ii)GOD SAID NO TO DAVID’S DESIRE TO BUILD THE TEMPLE. Why did God refuse David’s desire to build a temple to house the ark of the covenant? Because David was a man of bloodshed; he was a man of war. God said that because of the violence David had seen and partaken in that he could not build the temple, but that his son would. David could have sulked and pouted and declared, “Fine, I won’t do a thing!” However, that is not how David acted. Instead David started making preparations for the temple to be built. He gathered materials from all over in preparation to build the temple of God.
(iii)DAVID’S GIVING (I Chron.29:2-5). David gave generously from his own money for the materials to construct the temple. Now consider the fact he gave of his means to build a temple he would never see. Yet, David gave from his heart cheerfully.
(iv)DAVID’S QUESTION, “WHO ELSE WILL GIVE?” (I Chron.29:5). As king, David could have commanded the people to give, but David would rather give the people an opportunity to give of their own free will. He gave them an opportunity to do good.
(v)THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO DAVID’S QUESTION (I Chron.29:6-7). The leaders offered willfully and cheerfully to give to the building of the temple. Great leaders always set a great example. Here the leaders gave cheerfully and the people followed their lead and gave (vs.8).
(vi)THE RESULT OF THEIR GIVING WAS JOY! They did not have some sinking feeling in their heart that they wasted their money when they gave, but they rejoiced in giving to God. Consider the joy they had in giving back to the God of heaven who had richly blessed them.
(vii)DAVID’S PRAYER (I Chron. 29:10-20).
David addresses God in one the most beautiful prayers as we read recorded in I Chronicles 29:10-20. Notice
Several statements from this beautiful prayer. In vs.12 he states “riches come from You.” David recognized where all blessings come from. He realized God is the giver of every perfect gift (Jas.2:17). In I Chron.29:14 David realizes another great truth that we would do well to recognize. David understood that he was just a steward and not an owner of the things in his possession. Whatever we think we own we only have for a short time while here, the only eternal possession we have is our soul (Matt.16:26). A third great truth David uttered in his prayer is in regard to the heart of man (vs.17-20). He pleads with God to let this giving heart remain in His people. David knew the temptation of material things becoming the focus and not God, and he prayed that Israel would keep their focus on God. We should pray the same thing David prayed, remembering that we are only stewards of what God has blessed us with, not really owners.
LESSONS FOR US: (1) All things belong to God, we are just stewards. (2) Material things do not bring lasting happiness. There will always be an upgrade we desire and we are never satisfied with what we have. Get tired of what we have and want something bigger to fulfill our empty lives when in reality only God can. We need to be laying up treasures in heaven (Matt.6:19-20). You will never regret investing in God. (3) We need to give to God cheerfully and willingly (2 Cor.9:7). (4) One day we will give an account of what God has entrusted to us.
