But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

1 Chronicles 29:14

Other than God himself, is there a better example of a giving heart in all the Bible?

David has given his personal fortune for the future temple. The people have responded with their own generosity. Everyone has given with a sense of deep gladness.

With a heart brimming with joy, David can only praise his God.

Lord, it is our privilege to give to you. Who am I, and who are my people, that we have this privilege of giving like this?

For Lord, it all belongs to you. It all comes from you. When we give, we are only giving back to you. We are only giving what you gave to us. We are only giving what belongs to you still.

For Lord, you own it all. It all belongs to you. You are the owner, and we are only the messengers.

David teaches us what giving is all about. Giving is a privilege. We are privileged to give back to God, to give back to God what came from his hand.

Sometimes when I give (I hate to admit it), I feel virtuous or noble, not privileged. But David, through Holy Scripture, thrashes this haughty attitude. When it comes to giving, the word is privilege.

To the God who has freely given us everything – life, breath, heaven, forgiveness, eternity, and his own dear Son – to this God we have the privilege of giving in glad gratitude.

When it comes to giving, giving back to our gracious God, remember that it is a privilege.