King David on how to run a fundraiser!
by Pastor Stephen Abraham
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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 (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Have you ever been involved in building something for God’s kingdom?
Maybe your church was fundraising to update the worship centre or start a new school or school building project or start a new program.
This is the setting for today’s text. In the final years of his reign, King David has it on his heart to finally build the temple in Jerusalem. Because he had ‘drawn blood’ as a military commander, he wasn’t permitted to build it. The actual oversight of building it would fall to David’s son, Solomon. But David was the initial project manager laying all the groundwork. We read in chapter 28 that the Spirit of God had inspired David with architectural plans to build this great and glorious temple –even down to the budgetary costings of gold and silver needed for the lampstands and finery! At the beginning of chapter 29, King David has a great assembly with all the leaders, commanders and officials (the well-to-do of society). And it’s like he holds our equivalent of a fundraising gala or benefactor dinner to raise money for the project.
And then right at the high point of the event, as the money and donations are rolling in, this happens … Read 1 Chronicles 29:10–13.
Yes, they break out into a full-blown worship service! Starting with this amazing song of praise (verses 10–13) that acknowledges that everyone’s riches really belong to God anyway.
Read 1 Chronicles 29:13–20.
David breaks out into a prayer of gratefulness. Just reading it, you get the sense of the joy and excitement David had. As he prays in verse 17:
I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
I wonder if these passages give us a model of how we can raise funds for projects the Spirit is guiding us to build.
Praise be to you, Heavenly Father, for all the wonderful gifts you have given us to enjoy. Thank you for the LLL and the hundreds of projects it has supported over the decades. Holy Spirit, guide our communities who are building. May we worship and acknowledge you as the giver of all good things as we donate those treasures that we have that are ‘on loan’ from you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
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