The Good LifeSýnishorn

David wasn’t going to get to build God’s temple, but his son, Solomon, was. So, David collected an offering for the temple construction that would happen in the next generation. He gave from the royal treasury, his own personal treasury, and he invited anyone who wanted to give to God’s temple construction to give. After the tremendous offering was taken, David prayed, thanking God for the opportunity to give. He acknowledged that “we have given you [God] only what comes from your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14).

In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes about a child who wants to buy a present for his father. The child asks his father for some money, and his father gives it to the child. The child uses it to buy the father a present, but no one believes the father is any richer for the transaction; it was the father’s money, to begin with. It is the same with God and us. God gives us everything that we turn around and give back to Him. God doesn’t need anything because He owns everything. But when we give, it makes God happy. And what’s even more incredible? God has made it so that generosity with His things blesses us, too.