AFFECTION
Good morning,
During March, we always seek to raise money for special projects at church. Everybody basically has their “special projects.” For some people it’s their motor home; for other people, their special project is their four-wheelers and off-road vehicles. I know one couple that loves to go on cruises. They will carefully plan their time and their finances so they can enjoy multiple cruises every year. Now, in and of themselves, none of these activities or hobbies are wrong, but we must understand that these are a reflection of what people consider special or important.
In retrospect, David told the people of Israel why he did what he did in regards to the temple and money.
1 Chronicles 29:3 “Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,"
vs. 4 Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:”
Notice David’s statement, “…because I have set my affection to the house of my God…” David did what he did because he was very affectionate toward the house of God. God’s house, God’s work, and God’s people were precious to David, and because these things were precious, he had a strong affection for these things; he managed to find a way to give financially.
vs. 2 “Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God.”
The more we love something, the more time and energy we will put into that thing. It could be our spouse, our children, or the work of God. In verse two, David prepared “with all my might.” He worked at it! It was on his mind all of the time. Because of his love, he worked at finding ways to gather resources to provide for the work of God.
I know many people who spent their lives storing up for retirement, and then, after retirement, found themselves unable to do the things they had hoped to do because their health broke, or their spouse went to Heaven, or they both went to Heaven. I surely do not think it a bad idea to leave something to our “children’s children” as the Bible says (Proverbs 13:22). I know every bit of energy I put into God’s work is eternal, and it will make an impact on my family and other families forever.
One last thought: you will notice in verse three, that David “set” his affections. It was intentional. It was not an accidental fall-in-love-with-some-girl-he-met-in-school feeling. He set his affection! It was intentional. He determined that the house of God was worthy of his love, his affection, and his sacrificial giving.
This is what Paul referred to in the book of Colossians.
Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Everyone loves something enough to spend their time accumulating money for that investment. That precious investment could be beer and cigarettes, a trip to Las Vegas, horses or dogs, house and yard, or any number of other things. It seems prudent to set our affection on the things of God.
Pastor