Wholehearted Part 2. Worship and Generosity

Read: 1 Chronicles 29

• What do you notice?
• What stands out to you?
• What observations or questions does this passage raise?

Discuss:

David makes an impassioned plea for the people to give as he has given to resource the building of the temple (v. 2-5).

• How does the way he approaches this request strike you?
• Is this the way we (our culture) would do it? Why or why not? What would we do differently?
• What does this suggest to us about our attitude toward money and generosity?

Verses 6-9 use the terms, “willingly”, “freely”, “wholeheartedly” in relation to the giving that resulted, and the people rejoiced – note that this was not just the leaders, but the leaders giving from the shared resources of their constituents.

• What does their giving indicate about how they feel about contributing to the temple?
• Given that they already consecrate the first born of all their animals, give the first fruits and a tithe of their crops, and offer sacrifices at different festivals of the year, plus support the king through the equivalent of taxes, what do you think stops the Israelites feeling like David’s request is “just another ask”?
• What moves your heart to give even when money is tight?

David then acknowledges the source of the wealth he and the people have contributed.

• How would you summarise David’s response to the generosity of the people in v.10-20?
• What is a takeaway for you from David’s words?

Pray: that we would recognise the generosity of God in our daily lives and respond to His generosity with generosity of our own.