Building Project

David is often remembered as the shepherd boy who became king. And there is the tendency for the youthful acts which brought him glory to overshadow the acts of the mature man which brought him honor. For it was in his final years that his character and heart for God were fully revealed.

"For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.” (1 Chr 29:15-17)

David’s last public act was to organize the work and contribute his fortune to the building of the temple in Jerusalem. In the process he says some things which reveal the mature mind of “the man after God’s own heart.” First, every human ever born on this earth is “just passin’ through.” “For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were.”

Secondly, there is nothing in this life alone which can give any person’s life or accomplishments meaning or value. As Shakespeare penned in these lines from Macbeth: “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Job said the same thing; "For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, When God requires his life?” The verdict of the Wise is unanimous: apart from God “there is no hope.” But because hope is based on God Himself, our present life is given meaning by our relationship to our eternal reward in Christ. Hope in God makes the events of this life meaningful.

Thirdly, no matter how big one’s house, how vast one’s fortune, or how great one’s fame, we are all tenants, living on God’s land, spending God’s money, and treading on God’s glory. Paul asked the Corinthians, “What do you have that you have not received?” To think as King Nebuchadnezzar did that this is “Babylon the great, that I have built” is to engage in self-deception.

Finally, David recognized the importance and influence of a godly legacy. “I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.” As David’s earthly sojourn came to an end he recognized his opportunity to speak to those who would come after him. As his last public act he gave his fortune, willingly and from his heart, to the building of the temple. Hebrews tells of those who, though dead “still speak” and we need to remember that, as believers, our works follow us. One of the inexplicable traits of the body at CBC is the complete absence of estate giving to the church. I have often wondered how someone could mature at Calvary, raise their children here, fellowship, be comforted and taught here and then, when the time came, make no provision in their will for the ministry which supported them during their life. One possible explanation is that no one has set the example for others to follow. Like David, we must understand the importance of example and to act on the truth that investing in God’s work is an investment in eternity. Thank you for your faithful giving and please continue to give to the building fund!