This past weekend, my husband and I rented a movie…Soul Surfer. WOW – what a great movie (and a tear jerker at that). If you haven’t seen it, I definitely recommend it. Interestingly enough, while the movie was good, it wasn’t Soul Surfer that stuck with me hours/days later…it was a preview…this preview.
I haven’t seen this movie yet, but it does leave a powerful message. How far would you go…how much would you risk…how hard would you fight…to save a life? And that’s exactly what I had on my mind as I went into this weekend’s church service where we continued the Unpacking Hope series…and this past week’s message: Give of Your Resources. I’ve continued to think about both the movie and the message over the past few days…isn’t it funny how a lesson can hit you right between the eyes?
I think it has a lot to do with me regularly avoiding any discussion of money…and when I think of resources, I immediately jump to money. For the record, I’ve been tithing for the past couple of years. Our church makes it quite easy – we can make automatic withdrawals from our checking account. Furthermore, Mr. Derek provides a great lesson on budgeting. CLICK HERE…it’s hilarious! I’m not sure that’s the issue. If I take a step back at the big picture, as Americans (and potentially the rest of the world, but we’ll just pick on Americans for now), we have and waste a lot of stuff. Consider this (applies to the United States):
- There are twice as many shopping centers as there are high schools.
- We have 100,000 storage facilities with over 10 million storage bins
- Since 1950, our homes have at least doubled in size
- If you make $20k per year, you are in the top 10% of earners in the world
And we all know that we can’t take it (our stuff or our money) with us when we die, but when it comes to intentionally altering our lifestyle to give back to God’s kingdom, we have such a hard time letting go…even harder time trusting him. We’re way too concerned about being popular, wearing the latest trends, having the newest gadgets, driving a cool car, having the best camera gear, or keeping a fat bank account to hear the needs of those around us. I know I’m guilty, but 1 Chronicles 29 has helped me put things into a little more perspective.
Setting things up: For many years, people worshiped God within a mobile tabernacle (tent). At this time in history, the people were more like nomads so they would travel across the country, keeping God in a box. When they would set up camp, they would bring God out of the box and set up a place for worship. When it was time to leave, they’d pack it up and put God back in the box. Many years later, we find King David looking out of one of the windows in his palace. He doesn’t feel that it’s right that he lives in this beautiful palace while God still lives in a box. So, he wants to build God a temple…except, God doesn’t want David to build the temple…he wants David’s son Solomon to build the temple when he comes into power. 1 Chronicles 29:1-6, Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God… Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple… Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today?” Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
King David has put a lot on the line to build this temple – he says all of his resources and his personal treasures. If you translated all of his giving into today’s dollars, he would have given roughly $7 billion. This particular event is meant to raise additional funds to build the temple. The people then follow by giving what would now be another $1 billion…and they rejoice.
1 Chronicles 29:9, The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
I wonder if King David were alive today and asked us for money to build God’s temple, if we would give so freely, so willingly, so wholeheartedly? I think the more likely response would be for us to either ask a bunch of questions or see how little we can get away with (as is evidence by how much I give beyond tithing). But King David’s people…they know what’s up…they know the difference between being an “owner” and being a “manager.”
And it’s not just that we are to manage his resources…we are to trust in God that our every need will be provided. If we just do our part, God will do his. Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Message translation) says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. God is able to do way more than we’ve ever imagined.” To be honest…I’m not sure that I’ve ever tested God’s greatness – I’ve never asked for the impossible and then trusted that he would provide. Then I read stories like this (CLICK HERE)…GOD IS GOOD.
Everything belongs to God and everything is dispersed by God…we are just managers of his resources. Our question then is not how much we should give or where do I give, but how can we use his resources he’s provided to further build his kingdom…in much the same way that King David did? And I’m pretty sure that this not only applies to our financial resources, but our spiritual gifts as we discussed last week.
I think the whole point…and I guess the message that keeps hitting me is that we are all here for to support one another – emotionally, spiritually, financially, whatever. Our creator has given us everything we need and it’s up to us to use those resources. Consider this, if today was your last day…would you do anything different?
Everything belongs to God and everything is dispersed by God…we are just managers of his resources. Our question then is not how much we should give or where do I give, but how can we use his resources he’s provided to further build his kingdom…in much the same way that King David did? And I’m pretty sure that this not only applies to our financial resources, but our spiritual gifts as we discussed last week.
I think the whole point…and I guess the message that keeps hitting me is that we are all here for to support one another – emotionally, spiritually, financially, whatever. Our creator has given us everything we need and it’s up to us to use those resources. Consider this, if today was your last day…would you do anything different?
So, where does this leave us? If nothing else…a lot to think about.
