Bible Study - Possessions - What Do You Own? - 1 Chronicles 29 - June 5, 2011

Bible Study – Possessions – What Do You Own? – June 5, 2011

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Putting Possessions in Perspective.”
Our scripture for this lesson is 1 Chronicles 29:10-20.
A right perspective regarding our possessions begins with the recognition that everything we have belongs to GOD. We have the responsibility of managing the trust GOD gives us. Recognizing and acknowledging that all we have belongs to GOD is one thing. But living by it can be a challenge. Does that mean, as Christians, we give everything away willy-nilly? It means that Christians live and give as led by the HOLY SPIRIT, which requires the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST. When the HOLY SPIRIT leads Christians to give, it is joyful. GOD does not want Christians to give grudgingly. If we are not joyful when we give or give grudgingly, we need to confess it to GOD and ask HIM to reveal our hearts. It could be that we do not have the right relationship with HIM or that our giving or motive is wrong.

GOD’S desire is for Christians to be cheerful givers. We must keep in mind that HE also expects HIS children to be responsible givers and take care of our families. Yes, GOD provides but HE gives us common sense and a brain to manage what we do with the provisions HE gives to us. There are many opportunities for people to give but there is also a balance. This does not diminish the need but it does emphasize the need for Christians to be led by the HOLY SPIRIT. It is hard to say no to a worthy cause but sometimes it is necessary to be obedient.

I know I can hear some say, “You cannot out give GOD!” That is true but neither can you give to everything that comes along. Pray and act upon discernment, which is guided by the HOLY SPIRIT. Christians must be careful that they are not giving to test GOD. Such that, if I give all that I have GOD will take care of me. If you are led by GOD to do so, then HE will take care of you but if it is you testing GOD to provide, you will go hungry. Christians need discernment. Many of us have heard stories of a fellow Christian stating, “I gave my last cent to GOD or my rent money or whatever and the next day I had a check in the mailbox for that amount or “X” times that amount.” These are exciting examples of GOD providing as the result of our obedience but GOD must lead the person to exercise that step of faith. If you step out in faith without being led, you will be disappointed. It is a very fine line between your will or GOD’S will. Our hearts can be deceptive. Do we want a story to tell to build our egos and be able to tell to others?

In the lessons this month we will explore:

June 12 – Where is Your Treasure – Matthew 6:19-34.

June 19 – How Much Is Enough? – Philippians 4:10-20; 1Timothy 6:6-12.

June 26 – Why Be Generous? – Luke 19:1-10; 1 Corinthians 8:3-4; 1 John 3:16-18.

Many Christians struggle with giving, especially if those responsible for the use of the funds at the institution, church or organization do not use them as we think they should. Christians should be discerning but they also must examine their attitude, whims, pet projects, etc. Do they withhold their funds because ___? How Christians answer that question is very important.

Christians who give are accountable to GOD, just as those responsible for using the things given, are accountable to GOD for using them as HE directs.

Our scripture is a prayer that King David uttered to GOD near the end of his life. David’s heart’s desire was to build a temple for GOD. David was a warrior and had blood on his hands. GOD said “no” to David’s request to allow him to build the temple but GOD would allow his son, Solomon, to build the temple. David did not sulk or get mad at GOD. GOD did permit him to prepare to build the temple. David was busy gathering materials and making plans for the temple that Solomon would build. David accepted GOD’S decision. David delighted in using the wealth GOD had given him to be able to contribute toward the building of the temple.

Let’s read 1 Chronicles 29:10-11: (GOD Owns Everything)

David’s Prayer

10 Then David praised the LORD in the sight of all the assembly. David said, “May You be praised, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.

King David had just made healthy contributions toward building the temple and he asked the people to contribute. They responded with generosity and David, as well as the people were rejoicing at the response of their leaders and themselves. This is David’s prayer of thanksgiving to GOD in the hearing of the people.



Often prayer gives insight into the Spiritual nature of those praying. David’s prayer revealed his heart toward GOD. David began his prayer using the word “praise.” Praise comes from a Latin word meaning “value” or “price” which translates to “merit” or “worth.” Praise was directed to GOD. HE alone was worthy and had value because we as humans have been gifted with life and all things good from GOD. HE has entrusted HIS children with a trust filled with good things. Some may say, “Well, I must have been standing behind the door when HE passed out all these good things.” We must keep in mind that GOD gives us the right to make decisions. Have we made good decisions? Has sin robbed us? GOD forgives us of our sins when we confess them, but we have to contend with the consequences of our sin.

David acknowledged the eternal nature of GOD and that HE is the Father of Israel. David acknowledged the majesty, greatness, power, glory and splendor of GOD both in the heavens and on earth. Everything belongs to GOD and HE is in control of everything.

How big is your GOD? Does HIS greatest end with your ability to provide? Can your GOD go beyond your ability to provide? David saw that GOD went beyond his ability to provide all that was needed to build the temple. He was overwhelmed with joy and praise because with the help of the people, they could build the temple.

King David was a leader and we studied leadership last month. We see in this scripture that David gave, which influenced others to give generously toward the building of the temple. The result was that all who gave rejoiced at the work of the LORD through the people. GOD received the honor. Ezra recognized that GOD’S hand was in his life and Queen Esther was at the right place at the right time. We are in this life for just a time as this. Can you look back and see the hand of GOD working and guiding your life?

David’s prayer continued.

Let’s read 1 Chronicles 29:12-16: (GOD Gives Us What We Have)

12 Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. In Your hand are power and might, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand.[12] 15 For we are foreigners and sojourners in Your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 LORD our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You.

David acknowledged that all things come from GOD – riches and honor – because HE is ruler of all things in the universe and upon earth. This statement revealed the depth of David’s heart toward GOD.

David saw GOD as the power and might to make those who obediently serve HIM great and strong. As a result of the generosity of the people, David saw that it was GOD’S hand that had provided. The response of the people was a direct result of GOD providing through them, because apart from HIM no one has anything. David acknowledged that all that anyone has comes from GOD and they are simply returning it back to HIM, a portion of what HE had given to them.

This is the heart of the message to Christians. We are stewards of the trust GOD allows us to manage for HIM. This includes our lives, our children, careers, wealth, possessions and the list goes on and on.

David recognized his mortality and that life was a gift of time to serve GOD. Building a physical temple was to honor GOD and for the world to see. Christians are the temple of GOD for the world to see and to bring honor and glory to GOD. Christians are the temple of GOD because when they receive CHRIST as their SAVIOR, they also receive the HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT indwells every Christian.

In verse 14, David asked “Who am I.” He was not asking GOD to identify him but “Who am I, a mere mortal to be the recipient of such vast generosity from YOU, GOD?” All people should ask that same question, especially Christians. The way we find the answer is to seek to know GOD through CHRIST. It is having the right relationship with HIM through CHRIST. You and CHRIST become intimate best friends and sharing your most intimate thoughts. As you walk together through life, you build trust with each other. This is sanctification – going through the good times and the bad – building trust, confidence and getting to know each other.

David had journeyed with GOD for a long time. He journeyed from tending sheep as a young lad, to this point in his life. He knew GOD and GOD knew him.

Let’s read 1 Chronicles 29:17-20: (GOD Examines Our Heart)

17 I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with uprightness. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present[13] here giving joyfully and[14] willingly to You. 18 LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You. 19 Give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commandments, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.” 20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly praised the LORD God of their ancestors. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and the king.

Why do you give? David acknowledged to GOD that his heart was pure toward GOD in his giving. He did not have an ulterior motive in his giving. He gave from a pure heart because he felt led of GOD to do what he was doing.

This is so true. If the trustees of the resources we give do not use them the way they should, they are accountable to GOD. Our part is to give as we are led to give. It is the responsibility of those who manage what is given to do so according to GOD’S plan. We are all accountable to GOD – giver and receiver.

David gave insight into the GOD’S mind according to his experiences with GOD. He stated that GOD tests us.

It may be like the story I heard of a man on a very turbulent flight promising GOD if HE would let him get back to the ground safely, he would give HIM half of his wealthy. The flight landed safely and as the man exited the plane, there happened to be a Catholic priest walking along his side and told him that he hoped he would honor the promise he made to GOD. The man replied, “Oh, I made a better deal with GOD, I told HIM if I ever got back on a plane I would give HIM all that I had.”

So often, we bargain with GOD. GOD knows our hearts and tests us, not for HIM to know what is in our hearts but for us to know. Often, what is revealed is not pretty.

David stated that GOD was pleased with uprightness. You never hide the truth from GOD.

David’s desire was for them to always give generously out of pure hearts because they acknowledged that GOD owns everything and they are stewards. He asked GOD to keep a close check on the motives of their hearts.

David closed his prayer with a request for GOD to give his son, Solomon, the right heart filled with the right motives to obediently serve HIM. In order for Solomon to do that, Solomon had to have the right relationship with GOD and so do all Christians. Christians need to pray for their children.

Christians are building a life. They build careers, social lives, family lives, and Spiritual lives. Do you include GOD in your life? Oh, I can hear some say, “What has GOD done for me lately?” I ask you to look around you and behold HIS handy work. Look at your very life. You are living in a miracle, the human body. Oh yes, it gets sick. Death and decay are the result of sin. CHRIST paid the price to redeem all who would believe upon HIM from sin and death. The resulting free gift of salvation is eternal life, being born anew into the family of GOD and citizenship in heaven. Look around you at the universe, the heavens, the mountains, the flowers, trees, vegetation, the very air we breathe, the creatures both great and small. GOD’S handy work is all around us. HE provides the very food that sustains us.

David concluded his prayer with the words, “Praise the LORD your GOD.” The people responded from joyful hearts at the work of GOD through them.

David had walked with GOD and he knew GOD. He trusted GOD because of the relationship he had with GOD. Journeying with GOD does not always mean smooth sailing. David had many rough spots in his life, just as many of us do. David committed adultery, had Bathsheba’s husband killed, wanted to hide what he had done and had to be confronted with his sin. He confessed his sins and GOD forgave him. He still had to suffer the consequences of his sins. He loved GOD and GOD loved him.

David did not give to atone for his sins but he gave out of a heart that had been purified by GOD. He gave because he felt led to do so and the joy of giving. He gathered the materials for a work that Solomon would have to finish.

Why do we give? Is it to ease our conscience? Is it in hopes that GOD will let us into heaven? Is it to build our ego? Is it to show off what we have? Or do we give out of a pure heart as GOD leads us by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT? Is it a joy when we give? Only you and GOD know the real reason.