Preparations for the building of the Temple continue with David still very much in control. As we have read before: “Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced”. I guess I might forgive David for holding a tight rein on this project. God had given him the exact plans, measurements and instructions for the Temple, but he was not to build it. Solomon was to build it. David was now making as many preparations as he could to ensure that all was accomplished and God was honoured. David, ever the generous man after God’s own heart, was prepared to put many of his own resources of gold, silver and precious stones at the builders’ disposal. He was a sacrificial giver. After making his own pledge, he urged the leaders of families to give to the project with similar generosity and they did. This reminds me of the early days of the Fountain of Life church when money was needed to purchase “The Well” and establish a settled worshipping community. Some of you will remember the sacrificial giving which enabled the amazing building we have now to be made fit for the praise and glory of the Lord. It became the treasure to buy and preserve for future worshippers. Matthew 6:21: “where your treasure is there your heart will be also” and over the years many hearts have been changed because of that generosity of others.

As David leads His people in praise and thanksgiving for the gifts, he comes to a new place of realization: that all he owns has in fact been given to him by God and that he is merely giving out of God’s generosity in the first place. This fact humbles him and along with the people he prostrates himself before the Lord. What more can we do when we realise everything God has done for us? We too are a people much blessed when we deserve no such good treatment.

I am writing this as many of us are following the Lent “40 Acts” reflections and suggestions of ‘giving out’ to others rather than ‘giving up’ something we enjoy. When we consider our generous God, we grow in our ability to give extravagantly of our time and our possessions. We begin to create pockets of generosity where we live and work.

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“Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One;

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son.

And now let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks”.