As Much As God Allows

1 Chronicles 22-23; Psalm 12; Proverbs 19:13-14

 

What do you think of when you read that first line, “As much as God allows?” Do you think, “Sure, I’ll take as much as God allows. As much money, as much vacation, as much food, as much fun. I’ll try not to cross the lines, but I’ll take as much as God allows.”

 

David wanted to give and serve as much as God would allow. He had wanted to build a house for God, but God did not permit him to build. David’s son Solomon would build the house instead.

 

So what did David do? Did he sit back and say, “Well that saves me some time and effort.” No. David still wanted to be involved. It was his idea, his dream, his desire to honor God by building this house – this magnificent temple! So even though God would not allow David to build the house, David did as much as God would allow to serve His God by making preparations for Solomon to build the temple.

 

David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it." So David made extensive preparations before his death. – 1 Chronicles 22:5

 

How extensive were David’s preparations?

 

"I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron--craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you."

 

Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. – 1 Chronicles 22:14-17

 

David prepared the materials. David gathered the workmen. David commanded Israel’s leaders to help his son. It was almost like David had put together a temple kit for Solomon. Everything was there. Everything was ready. All Solomon needed to do was build it.

 

Solomon would get the credit – the fame, the recognition, the honor – for building the temple. But David wasn’t worried about the credit. He was a faithful servant, and he simply wanted to serve as much as God allowed.

 

Father, help me to be such a faithful servant. You are worthy. I am honored to serve You, no matter how great or small a task You assign to me. I am better off cleaning toilets in Your service than being the President of a country that opposes You. So give me as much as You want me to do. And where You prevent me from serving, may I gladly make preparations for others to serve You well in those places and ways.