There is a classic record at the end of 1 Chronicles that ties giving and thankfulness together. On this national day of Thanksgiving, I would like to share it with you. The setting for this is the prayer that David offered to God when David and the people gave of their prosperity the things needed for the building of the temple that Solomon was to build.

1Chronicles 29:10-14  Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

Our times are different because our biblical administration is grace, not law, like in David’s time, but we too can have thankful hearts like these people did when we give.

Here is the beginning of a list of things to be thankful for:

Salvation
New birth
Eternal life
The food he provides
All spiritual blessings
Having His spirit born within
That He hears ALL our prayers
The manifestations of the spirit
How He walks and talks with us
God’s watchful care over our lives
For the prosperity He gives His children

In this record, these people and David gave willingly back to God for His service and what He had given to them. The people recognized all they had belonged to God anyway. So it was with a thankful heart that they gave.

The best motivation for giving is not because we were told to or because we would feel condemnation if we don’t or out of fear that God won’t love us or accept us, but we give because we believe His word. We give because the One that gave us eternal life asked us to. We give from a thankful heart. We give because of our love for Him.

To give back to God from a thankful heart because we believe His Word is all part of aligning our minds and hearts up properly in pursuit of The Prosperous Life.

Happy Thanksgiving!