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Scripture
…The Lord declares that he will make a house for you… 2 Samuel 7:11
Observation
Oddly enough, God works under the disguise of a non-profit organization called the church. God does his work out of iron buckets swinging under the ringing bells of Salvation Army officers standing in front of Walmart and from giving buckets at church. The Lord operates his business on handouts. God, who owns everything, operates from what many consider a tip rather than a tithe. It is a clever camouflage for the ONE who is greater than all he has made in the universe.
But as David discovered, it is not God who needs help, rather it is we who stand in need of him. The king of the nation saw the God of the universe camping in a tent, felt sorry for him and offered to build him a house. However, the humble Lord of heaven smiled on his well intentioned servant and said, “Buddy, I don’t need help; let me show you what I can do to help you.”
Application
I wonder how many people see the church as a charity and the offering as a chance to help God out? We need to be humbled by the generosity of God so that we may know how great he is and how finite we are. We don’t help God out; it is he who is the source of everything we have.
What David offered to the Lord, God mirrored back to him. There is a principle in wholehearted service. We fear throwing our whole heart into what we do, lest we lose what we value. David learned, if he gave all, the Lord gave back more in return.
In order for us to become true givers we need to drop the notion of helping God out, and instead do the most difficult thing of all: allow the Lord to serve us. A person helped by the Lord is very wealthy and has much to give. David thought he was cashed up and ready to lend a hand. But the generosity of God back to him embarassed him.
Prayer
Father, there is something overwhelming about the words “I will build a house for you.” When we want to give to you, you give it back to us. How generous you are! Help me to receive well. Amen.
