Five Invitations - Day 13

DAY 13 - Everything Comes From God
1 Chronicles 29:10-14 

King David has learned where his giving comes FROM. He prays, “Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone…” (1 Ch. 29:11-12, NLT)

It finally sinks in: everything comes from God, so everything belongs to God. David thinks, “What right do I have to hold things with a death-grip if it’s not mine anyway?”

My friend has a nice pickup truck. I would love a big pickup truck, but it would be pretty weird if I started acting like his truck is my truck. Imagine him going outside to drive to work and his truck is gone! Then I expect him to ask my permission to use it! Of course he’s going to be upset because I’m treating his stuff like it’s mine! I wonder…do I ever treat God that way?

It all belongs to God. That’s one reason why we can never put God in debt to us. C.S. Lewis puts it this way in his book, Mere Christianity: saying we give something to God is like a child saying, “Dad, give me $10 dollars to buy you a birthday present.” Dad’s just tickled at his daughter’s wish and, of course, gives her the money. He’s delighted when she gives him the gift. But only a fool would believe the Dad is $10 richer.

It all belongs to God. It’s easy to give away what was never really mine.

David realizes something else in his prayer, v.14, "But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!"

God shares! “God, we can only give, because you shared with us first!” It’s grace, a free and undeserved gift from God. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because God first loved us.” The one who owns everything loves to share. God loves to share with you! Knowing that empowers us to give and makes giving a connection point with God who gives.

REFLECT:
How easily do you share with others?

PRAY:
Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! Teach me to share like you share with us. Amen.