I Chronicles 29
Dear RTB’ers,
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. (v. 9a) I was chatting with our treasurer, Ellen Backs, on Sunday and she was recounting how generous our congregation is and has been the past few years. She was also remembering how difficult my last few years as treasurer had been, when we ran deficit budgets two or three or four years in a row. And it was a difficult time for us. However, it was only the operating budget that was in deficit. Our congregation had given in abundance for other needs – Uganda, Avanza, the Mission Committee and our missionaries, ARDF, memorials, etc. And we don’t even have records of private giving to other needs. So yes, we’ve always had a generous congregation!
King David praying: O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand and is all Your own. (v. 16) And our congregation, like King David’s people, have recognized God’s hand in all our giving and thanked Him with grateful hearts.
For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You. (v. 14b)
Blessings.
See also: April 30 (2023) / I Chronicles 26:20-29:30.