A message from Pastor Linda
Giving to God with a pure heart.
By Pastor Linda Brogdon | May 3, 2010
Giving to God with a pure heart.
1 Chronicles 29:1-9— 1Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house. 4Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 5The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? 6Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, 7And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then 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.
These scriptures show us how God want us to give today...with a perfect heart. We
see King David gave an offering, over and above what he had dedicated from the spoils of neighboring nations to build the House of God. He gave a liberal offering of more than one hundred million dollars form his own personal treasury. He told the people, “because I have set my affections on the house of My God, in addition to all I have prepared for the holy house, I have a private treasure of gold and silver which I give for the house of my God…(see verse 3)”
It was not the size of the gift that was so important, but David’s motive in giving. He gave not to make atonement for his sins, nor as the Pharisees who gave alms to be seen of man, but because he set his affection on the House of God! He gave from a pure heart because of his love for God and for His House. Our motive for giving to God should be with a perfect heart, because of our love for God and for His Kingdom. David gave liberally, not because he was asked or encouraged or compelled to give, but because he had set his affection on the House of God. His heart, his desire, his love, his passion was focused upon God and building God’s House. When our hearts are focused upon God and He is the central focus of our love, we will be willing to give all that we have to Him for the of His Kingdom. Paul in Colossians 3:2 says, “set your affections on things above, not on earthly things.”
David after setting an example of unlimited liberal giving challenged the people…”who then is willing to consecrate his sources this day unto the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:5). The people immediately responded and willingly gave because of their love and devotion to God (1 Chronicles 29:9).
The leaders of Israel, leaders of families, officers of tribes of Israel, captains and rulers seeing the great love and devotion David had for the House of the Lord, gave freely and whole heartedly with all the people David blessed the Lord. In his prayer he acknowledged God as their source. He told God, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee and from Thy hand we have given Thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14).
God is OUR source. To give with a perfect heart is to acknowledge God as your source. All that you have has been given to you by God (Deuteronomy 8:18) “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Next to give with a perfect heart is to give willingly and wholeheartedly. 1 Chronicles 29:17 -”I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.” When you give to God do so without restraint, willingly, without being pressured. God takes pleasure in those who give cheerfully, whose heart is in His giving.
Today give God your perfect heart offerings. God has been dealing with me as Paul said in Colossians 3:2 ‘Linda set your affections on this above, not on the earth, for they are temporal.’ What we do for God and to further His Kingdom is all that is going to matter when we stand before Him.
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1 Chronicles 29:1-9— 1Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house. 4Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: 5The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? 6Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, 7And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then 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.These scriptures show us how God want us to give today...with a perfect heart. We
see King David gave an offering, over and above what he had dedicated from the spoils of neighboring nations to build the House of God. He gave a liberal offering of more than one hundred million dollars form his own personal treasury. He told the people, “because I have set my affections on the house of My God, in addition to all I have prepared for the holy house, I have a private treasure of gold and silver which I give for the house of my God…(see verse 3)”It was not the size of the gift that was so important, but David’s motive in giving. He gave not to make atonement for his sins, nor as the Pharisees who gave alms to be seen of man, but because he set his affection on the House of God! He gave from a pure heart because of his love for God and for His House. Our motive for giving to God should be with a perfect heart, because of our love for God and for His Kingdom. David gave liberally, not because he was asked or encouraged or compelled to give, but because he had set his affection on the House of God. His heart, his desire, his love, his passion was focused upon God and building God’s House. When our hearts are focused upon God and He is the central focus of our love, we will be willing to give all that we have to Him for the of His Kingdom. Paul in Colossians 3:2 says, “set your affections on things above, not on earthly things.”
David after setting an example of unlimited liberal giving challenged the people…”who then is willing to consecrate his sources this day unto the Lord” (1 Chronicles 29:5). The people immediately responded and willingly gave because of their love and devotion to God (1 Chronicles 29:9).
The leaders of Israel, leaders of families, officers of tribes of Israel, captains and rulers seeing the great love and devotion David had for the House of the Lord, gave freely and whole heartedly with all the people David blessed the Lord. In his prayer he acknowledged God as their source. He told God, “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from Thee and from Thy hand we have given Thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14).
God is OUR source. To give with a perfect heart is to acknowledge God as your source. All that you have has been given to you by God (Deuteronomy 8:18) “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Next to give with a perfect heart is to give willingly and wholeheartedly. 1 Chronicles 29:17 -”I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.” When you give to God do so without restraint, willingly, without being pressured. God takes pleasure in those who give cheerfully, whose heart is in His giving.
Today give God your perfect heart offerings. God has been dealing with me as Paul said in Colossians 3:2 ‘Linda set your affections on this above, not on the earth, for they are temporal.’ What we do for God and to further His Kingdom is all that is going to matter when we stand before Him.