Day 84: 1 Chronicles 29:1–9

“The task is great, for the temple will not be for man, but for the Lord God. So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God” (vv. 1–2).

One of my most heartfelt pleas before the throne of grace is this: Please surround my children with positive influences. Raise up godly friends for my children! David knew that little would influence Solomon’s success more than being surrounded by leaders whose hearts were devoted to seeking the Lord.

Solomon lacked nothing but age and experience—a lack that probably scared his father half to death. Looking at a son full of dreams, David dared not say, “This will be the most difficult thing you have ever done.” He could not explain how lonely Solomon would be at the top, the exhaustion of too much responsibility, the temptation of too much power, the loneliness of too few friends. Chances were good that Solomon would not have understood David anyway. He had too many stars in his eyes and accolades in his ears. So David looked at the whole assembly and basically said, “Give him a hand. He’s going to need it.”

Never underestimate the power of a positive example!

David himself proved this in giving sacrificially of his wealth to finance and outfit the temple. David could not have motivated the leaders of Israel to give freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord unless he too had given. He could have forced them, but the willing spirit God so deeply desired would have been forfeited. David knew their cheerful giving would be motivated by his own; therefore, he had to give more than what belonged to the kingdom. The third verse clearly tells us, “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.”

David gave what was his. What belonged to him. That which was personal. And the people overwhelmingly responded. I love the way the ninth verse captures the electricity of the moment: “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.”

What a glorious moment! I can’t think of much that spurs the hearts of the people of God like the wholehearted devotion of their leaders. When leadership is sold out to God, the followers become willing to sell out too.