Offering Willingly

Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. Offering willingly. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. First Chronicles twenty nine nine. As the people brought gifts for the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, it is mentioned no less than six times in this chapter that their offerings were willing offerings.

In fact, they were not only willing, but also joyful in their giving. Joyful giving is not the usual response to a fundraising effort for a religious cause. The great proliferation of causes today, not only for churches but for multi-church or parachurch projects that are usually associated with high-pressure solicitations by professional money raisers, has developed a growing cynicism in Christians toward all such appeals. That is not the way it should be for God loveth a cheerful giver. The churches of Macedonia, though, going through a great trial of affliction and in deep poverty, nevertheless abounded unto the riches of their liberality, and they did so in the abundance of their joy.

What made the difference was that they first gave their own selves to the Lord. No doubt another vital factor leading to the joyful offerings of the people for the building of the temple was the example set by David's great personal, joyful generosity, followed by that of all the other leaders of Israel. This encouraged the people also to give with perfect heart. They had evidently, like the Philippians of Macedonia, also first given themselves to the Lord. David had led them by example, not coercion, reminding himself and his people as he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, that all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

First Chronicles twenty nine fourteen. If you've enjoyed today's devotional, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And please rate and review so more listeners can find us. To support ICR's ministry, visit icr.org/slash donate. Your gift of any amount helps us to reach others with biblical truth and encouragement.

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