PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

I wonder if the prayer would change if offered to God after the collection had been counted? Would it be depressing, or one of praise? Every Sunday Christians contribute for the ministry of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Before the Lord’s Supper we often sing a song “to prepare our minds.” Before the contribution we also should have our minds prepared to give as we have prospered (1 Corinthians 16.2), as cheerfully decided in our own hearts (2 Corinthians 9.7). A prelude to giving includes first giving of ourselves (2 Corinthians 8.5).

Before David’s prayer of praise (1 Chronicles 29), he takes up a collection for the building of the temple. He is amazed. He acknowledges this is God’s work, help is needed, God deserves the glory, he gave his personal best (29.1-3). In conclusion, like an invitation to a sermon, is the summons, “Now who will volunteer to consecrated himself to the LORD today?” (29.5). The result is the leaders “gave willingly” (29.6); “the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give” (29.9); the leaders “had given to the LORD with a whole heart” (29.9). Let’s rewrite this prayer to fit our times. Notice how the prayer echoes the reality within the givers. Read carefully and compare to the prayers offered before the contribution:

“May You be praised, our Father, from eternity to eternity. Yours 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 Jesus is exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. But who are we 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. For we live before You as foreigners and temporary residents in Your presence as were all our spiritual ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. All this wealth that we’ve provided for building your kingdom for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with what is right. We have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. Lord God of our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You. Give us and our families a whole heart to keep and to carry out all Your commands, Your decrees, and Your statutes, and to build Your kingdom for which we have made provision. In Christ, Amen.”

Prayer Challenge: How happy are we to give and be able to give? Pray for happiness.

Tags: Prayer, Praying through the Bible

This entry was posted by PHall on Friday, May 23rd, 2014 at 10:41 am and is filed under I Chronicles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.