Intro. Today is All Tithe Sunday. This year in Stewardship, I did not teach a lot on what the Tithe is. Some disregard it, some scoff at it, but the tithe is an acknowledgment that we believe God provides all we have, and that God is faithful to us. The tithe is the first part of what God allows us to have. To hold back tithes and offerings from the Lord is a disgrace for any that claim to be saved. God has been good to us. 1Co 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." God’s work is provided for by God’s people.
In our text, we find that David is at the end of his life. David had a desire to build the Temple. He would not be allowed to do the task he desired - SO HE WOULD PROVIDE FOR IT! What a great attitude toward the Lord! God told him NO, and David said, then I will give! WHY?
- In a world that scoffs at our Gospel, Why do we do what we do?
- In a society that is empty of any answers, Why do we do what we do?
- In a culture that is void of morality, Why do we do what we do?
Sometimes things do not turn out like we want them to, or expect, so
WHY do we push forward and do what we do? Hopefully, as we look at David today, we can answer that question. David had been told that he would not be allowed to do what he wanted to do, yet he did not give up.
I. The Perception that He Expressed - vs. 1
A. The Recognition of what we Do - The Work is Great
1. It is Great because of our God.
2. It is Great because of His Gifts - he has enabled us.
3. It is Great because of Grace.
- Grace to be saved
- Grace to serve
- Grace to give
- Grace to Tell!
God still saves, and we have the message. That is why we do what we do.
B. The Realization of Why we do it - The Work is for God- We do all we do FOR HIM! Col 3:23 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Romans 14:8 "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s."
When we get to the point that we are doing the work of God for us, we will lose our focus and our joy. BUT if we can just keep our faith’s eyes on heaven we will never lose site of the GREAT WORK that is for a GREAT GOD!
II. The Passion that He Exhibited - vs. 2-3 David exhibited genuine devotion to God. He offered his possession, his abilities, everything he was.
A. A Devoted Person will offer with Determination - vs. 2 “all my might”
When we genuinely love Him, we will do our best! Yes, we fall short, but we can get up and give our service and giving to the Lord with everything we are and have!
B. A Devoted Person will offer with Willingness (Vs. 5,6,9,14,17; 28:9)
When the Lord gave of Himself, He did so “counting it all joy”. This certainly should mark our giving. Jesus gave all for us willingly, why shouldn’t we?
1. The Determination of His Heart.
- The Direction of His Love - He set his AFFECTION toward God.
It’s time we turn our hearts toward God again.
- The Demonstration of His Love - of mine own proper.
He dared not rely on someone else giving for him. This was personal
We do what we do because the Work of God is personal to us.
When it is really personal, there is a passion we will have for God’s work.
2. The Degree of His Actions - with all my might.
Half hearted service is producing a weak Christianity and is killing our society. Psalms 119:2 "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart."
C. A Devoted Person will offer with Sincerity - perfect heart means without hypocrisy. (V. 9) verse - Philippians 1:10 "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;" sincere - genuine, literally
without wax. In Christ’s day, a woman puts hot water into a brand new clay pot, and in a few seconds it shatters. She had bought a bad piece of pottery. The merchant had tried to hide a crack with wax that once melted isn’t noticeable. But the hot water had revealed that wax job!
Wax of laziness, deceit, discontent and other things all seem to clutter our lives. Will we be genuine before the one that matters?
D. A Devoted Person will offer with Gratitude - vs. 13
Possibly the greatest sin of God’s people is the lack of genuine gratefulness toward God - Colossians 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
E. A Devoted Person will offer with Praise - vs. 13b
Praise is not the empty actions of emotion, but the consuming desire to worship.
1. Worship is not emotion, it is Action toward God!
Music is not the only worship of the service. Prayer, offering, sermon, invitation, is all worship. Worship is not feeling, it is an attitude of absolute Surrender to God.
2. Worship is not based in the error of the world, but in Absolute Truth
3. Worship is not accidental, but is done on purpose from holy hearts.
If we are not surrendered, we are not able to worship - Many have profaned worship as the priests profaned the work of God in Ezekiel 22:26 "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean,
and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."
We worship because of who God is, and how good He has been to us!
F. A Devoted Person will offer with Affirmation - vs. 14
It is all God’s to begin with. Your ability and your possessions would not be yours if not for God. Oh that we would surrender all to Him.
1. Everything belongs to God - it is not ours to begin with.
2. Everything we have was given to us by God.
3. Everything we possess, abilities or possessions, is to use for God’s Glory!
III. The Probe that He Expected - not stay here long, but look at vs. 17
A. The Present Accounting - vs. 17
David knew that presently, his heart was tried by the Lord, and his life was about over and he would soon stand before the Lord.
B. The Coming Assessment - 2Co 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences." David expected it, do we live as if we could face the Lord today? Have we served and given like we believe?
IV. The Pleasure He Experienced - We should get excited about the work of God.
A. The People were excited to Come before the Lord - vs. 9
B. The People brought excitement to David - vs. 17
There is nothing like seeing God’s people get happy about their God!
I could not help but think of the Apostle Paul speaking to the church at Corinth. 2 Corinthians 1:14 "As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus." We effect one another! You effect my joy by being happy in the Lord, and I you. It is pleasing when we rejoice together!
Concl. So WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
This passage speaks of giving, but that is not the object of the passage.
THESE WERE THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID! And his last words were the passion and acknowledgment of the greatness of God’s Work. The Reason we do what we do is because we believe who God is - Perception.
- We genuinely Love our God and His work - Passion
- We will stand before the Lord - Probe
- We can rejoice in serving and giving - The Pleasure
That is why we do what we do! We do what we do because “the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.” - vs. 1
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
