Giving to Build God's Temple

1 Chronicles 28-29; Psalm 15; Proverbs 19:18-19

 

David, guided by the Spirit of God, put together building plans for God’s Temple, just as Moses had done for the Tabernacle, and he gave the plans to Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:11-19). And David has spent a lot of effort gathering the materials and laborers for building the Temple (1 Chronicles 29:1-2).

 

But now David has called together all Israel’s leaders, and it’s time for him to lead the people in giving personally and sacrificially to build God’s Temple:

 

Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: three thousand talents of gold (gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. – 1 Chronicles 29:3-5a

 

And he challenges the leaders of the people to do the same:

 

Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the LORD? – 1 Chronicles 29:5b

 

Just like when Moses asked the people to contribute to God’s Tabernacle, the people responded willingly:

 

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king's work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. – 1 Chronicles 29:6-9

 

Both times, these gifts were for buildings. Structures. Places.

 

When Jesus came, He called His body the temple of God (John 2:19, 21). Now we who have put our hope in Jesus are the one body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:12-13; Eph. 2:14-16; Eph. 3:6, 4:3-6, 4:25; Col. 3:15). We have become the temple along with Christ (1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16):

 

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. – Eph. 2:19-22

 

If the Israelites were so willing (twice!) to give generously to build structures, what are we willing to give until God’s Temple is completely built?

 

Father, give Your people a spirit of generosity so that we join with You in the ongoing work of building Your temple. May I give generously of my time, my efforts, my money. May my whole life, to the point of death, be completely devoted to building Your temple.