6-26-19 Today in the Word

DAVID CHOSE THE RIGHT TREASURE
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 | 1 Chronicles 29:1–14

In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Donovan chose the wrong Grail cup. When given the same choice, Indiana Jones chose rightly. On the table were gold, bejeweled, and richly designed cups. But Indy chose a simple wooden vessel, "the cup of a carpenter," and he passed the test!
King David, too, possessed the spiritual discernment to choose the right treasure. He could have been eaten up by disappointment at God’s rejection of his request to build a temple. Instead, he made preparations for his son Solomon to do so (v. 1). At a public assembly, he had a decision to make: How much to give toward the project? He’d already allocated significant resources from the royal treasury (v. 2), and he could have chosen to do nothing. Instead, motivated by “devotion to the temple of my God,” he also gave significantly out of his own personal treasures (vv. 3–5).
David gave publicly, not for the praise of others but to set a good example (vv. 6–9). He personally gave 110 tons of gold and 260 tons of silver. He inspired the national leaders, and they also gave generously—190 tons of gold and 380 tons of silver, in addition to large quantities of bronze, iron, and precious jewels. There was no coercion involved. The giving was done “freely and wholeheartedly” as an act of consecration to the Lord (vv. 5, 9). The people rejoiced over the godly generosity of their leaders!
David was much more wealthy and powerful than the rich young man in yesterday’s reading, but all his possessions didn’t own him. He knew: “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (v. 14). He didn’t trust in riches. Instead, his greatest treasure was his relationship with God!
APPLY THE WORD
David’s prayer of praise in verses 10–14 would make a good meditation for your time with the Lord today. Though you’re probably not going to be putting tons of gold in the offering plate, the principles are the same. We give to the Lord in cheerful gratitude as stewards of resources that are in fact His (2 Cor. 9:7).

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