STEWARDSHIP

“O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.”

(1 Chronicles 29:16-17, NKJV) 

These verses are part of King David’s prayer concerning gifts given to build the Temple. Not only had David given generously from his own wealth, but the people also gave generously. In this passage we see principles of stewardship.

God owns it all. 

God is the Creator and Owner of all things. He made it. He owns it.

We give what He first gave to us.

Everything we have was given to us by God. You may say, "I worked for this and earned it." Indeed, you did. But God gave you the resources and the abilities to enable you to do so. Ultimately, He gave you everything.

Give back to Him willingly, joyfully, generously.

God does not want us to give grudgingly, out of coercion, or in a stingy manner. He wants us to give willingly, because we love Him and we WANT to give. He wants us to give joyfully, to take pleasure in it. He wants us to give generously, more than enough, abundantly.

Our giving should always be an act of worship, honoring God with a portion of what He has given to us. When we follow these principles, we will find that our giving is not a chore; it is a blessing.