Where does it all come from?

1 chronicles 29:14-19 14"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. 19And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."

Samuel had just finished recording all that the leaders of Israel had given toward the temple of the Lord when David made this statement. What I think is so cool about this section of Scripture is that David recognizes his position and the position of his people before God. The first sentence, "who am I and who are my people, that we should be ABLE to give as generously as this?" David was thanking God for even the ability to give at that level...he follows it up with, "everything comes from You and we have given You only what comes from Your hand."

Sometimes I feel like we have given generously to God... but no matter how much I am ever able to give to God He has given to me more abundantly,more generously, then I could ever hope to repay! Even if I gave 90% to God and lived off the 10% that remained I would not receive any glory because it ALL came from Him in the first place!

So what can we say to God? David says it perfectly, "God of our fathers, keep this desire in the hearts of Your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You." May our desire be to give to God with honesty and integrity from what He has abundantly provided (whether little or much) that we may be always willing to give to You who first gave to us.