Awestruck

Founded in Truth Fellowship - Bible Teachings and Sermons

Awestruck
In this insightful Bible Teachings, the focus is on the intertwined principles of generosity and gratitude as essential aspects of a believer's life. Drawing primarily from the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 29, the speaker, Matthew Vander Els, explores how these virtues are exemplified through the actions and prayer of King David as he prepared for the building of the temple in Jerusalem.

The narrative begins by setting the historical context. After years of struggle and conflict, the tribes of Israel had finally been unified under the rule of King David and his son Solomon, experiencing a period of peace and security. The Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, had resided in a tent, the Tabernacle, for a long time. In his later years, David felt a profound desire to build a more permanent and grand structure, a temple, for the Lord. He initiated this ambitious project by gathering vast amounts of materials, including gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, precious stones, and marble, demonstrating his commitment to honoring God.

However, what stands out is not just the extensive resources David accumulated but his personal and sacrificial contribution to the temple's construction. Beyond what he had already provided, David offered from his own personal treasure an immense amount of gold and silver – three thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of refined silver. To put this into perspective, a single talent is described as a significant weight, potentially ranging from 75 to 110 pounds of precious metal. This highlights the enormity of David's personal sacrifice.

David's exemplary act of generosity had a powerful impact on the people and their leaders. Inspired by his willingness to give sacrificially, the leaders of the fathers' houses, the leaders of the tribes, commanders, and officers also made freewill offerings of substantial amounts of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones. The text emphasizes that the people gave willingly and with a whole heart, resulting in great rejoicing. King David himself also rejoiced greatly at this outpouring of generosity.

The teaching delves deeper into the underlying motivation behind such profound generosity. It suggests that true generosity stems from a heart that recognizes God's ownership of everything. David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:10-16 reveals this foundational understanding. He acknowledges God as the source of all greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty, recognizing that everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him. Even his own riches and honor, David declares, come from God and are God's possessions, not his own. This perspective fosters a sense of humility, leading David to question, "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly?" He views the opportunity to give back to God as an undeserving honor.

The teaching contrasts this attitude of gratitude and generosity with the ingratitude displayed by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. Despite being miraculously delivered from slavery and provided for in the wilderness with water and manna, they repeatedly grumbled and complained, longing for their former bondage. This narrative illustrates how an attitude of entitlement hinders the development of gratitude. Similarly, the story of Adam and Eve is referenced, highlighting how Adam's response to his sin involved blaming God, demonstrating a lack of responsibility and gratitude for all that he had been given.

The New Testament reinforces the importance of generosity, particularly through the example of Yeshua (Jesus Christ). 2 Corinthians 8:9 states that though He was rich, for our sake He became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich. This act of ultimate self-sacrifice serves as the model for believers. Furthermore, Paul's teachings in 2 Corinthians 9 encourage cheerful and bountiful giving, emphasizing that God loves a cheerful giver. This passage connects the act of generosity with God's ability to provide abundantly so that believers can continue to be generous, ultimately leading to thanksgiving to God.

An interesting point is made regarding the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer in some traditions, "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13 KJV). While not present in all early manuscripts, its similarity to David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29 suggests that early believers recognized a profound connection between prayer, recognizing God's sovereignty, and a heart of generosity aimed at manifesting God's presence in the world.

Application for Everyday Life

• Cultivate a mindset of gratitude: Regularly reflect on the blessings in your life and acknowledge God as the ultimate source of these gifts.
• Recognize God's ownership: Understand that everything you possess – your time, talents, resources – ultimately belongs to God and is given to you for a purpose.
• Practice intentional generosity in small ways: Look for daily opportunities to give your time, resources, and skills to others, even in seemingly insignificant ways.
• Give willingly and cheerfully: Approach giving not out of obligation but with a joyful heart, recognizing it as an act of worship and an opportunity to participate in God's work.
• Be a mentor of generosity: Let your life be an example of generosity to those around you, inspiring others to give and serve.
• Challenge entitlement: Be aware of any feelings of entitlement and actively choose to embrace humility and gratitude instead.
• Emulate Yeshua's self-sacrificial love: Strive to live a life characterized by selflessness, putting the needs of others before your own.
• Train your heart for generosity: Just as you train for any skill, consciously practice acts of generosity so that it becomes a natural response.
• Understand the purpose of your blessings: Recognize that God equips you with resources not for selfish accumulation but to be a channel of blessing to others.
• Pray for a generous heart: Ask God to cultivate within you a heart that is characterized by gratitude and a desire to give.

References Bible Verses

• 1 Chronicles 29:1
• 1 Chronicles 29:3
• 1 Chronicles 29:5
• 1 Chronicles 29:10
• 1 Chronicles 29:10-16
• Matthew 6:13
• 2 Corinthians 8:9
• 2 Corinthians 9:6

Books and Resources

• The Bible

For more teachings and insights, visit Founded in Truth Fellowship.

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