our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Oct 2, 2018, 5:01:15 PM10/2/18

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Generous Givers

Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14

After reviewing all God had already done throughout our church’s history, leaders presented the congregation with a proposal for a new gym to help us better serve our community. The leadership team announced they’d be the first to sign pledge notes to fund the construction. I initially prayed with a heart soured by selfishness, not wanting to offer more money than we had already committed to give. Still, my husband and I agreed to pray for the ongoing project. While considering all God continued providing for us, we eventually decided on a monthly offering. The combined gifts of our church family paid for the entire building.

Grateful for the many ways God’s used that gym for community events since we celebrated opening its doors for ministry, I’m reminded of another generous giver—King David. Though the Lord didn’t choose him to build His temple, David invested all his resources to the project (1 Chronicles 29:1–5). The leaders under him and the people they served gave generously too (vv. 6–9). The king acknowledged all they’d contributed had first been given to them by God—the Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of everything (vv. 10–16).

When we recognize God owns it all, we can commit to grateful, generous, and faithful giving for the benefit of others. And we can trust the Lord will provide—and may even use the generosity of others to help us when we’re in need.

Lord, please help us remember You own it all as we commit to giving You our all, willingly and selflessly.

God gives first, and He always outgives His most generous givers.

慷慨献上

万物都从祢而来，我们把从祢而得的献给祢。-历代志上29章14节

在回顾了上帝在我们教会所成就的一切之后，教会领袖们向会众提议兴建一座新的健身中心，以服事我们的社区。他们也表明率先签下认捐卡，为这项工程奉献。虽然我也为这项计划而祷告，但刚开始时，心中却因为自私而不太情愿，因为我不想在例行的奉献以外再付出更多，但我和丈夫仍然为工程的进展祷告。后来回想起上帝是如何不断地供应我们时，我们决定每月固定为此计划奉献。最后，教会成员齐心协力的奉献，负担了健身中心的费用。

从我们启用健身中心投入社区事工以来，上帝多方使用它进行了各项社区活动，我们十分感恩，同时也使我想到慷慨奉献的大卫王。虽然上帝没有让他建造圣殿，但大卫却为这项工程倾注一切的资源（历代志上29章1-5节），就连他手下的首领与他们所服事的百姓也都乐意奉献（6-9节）。大卫王承认他们所献的一切都来自于上帝，因上帝创造和维系万有，并统管一切（10-16节）。

当我们领悟到万有都是属于上帝的时候，就能为了别人的益处，而愿意心存感恩，慷慨且忠心地奉献。我们也能确信主必供应一切，祂甚至会在我们有需要时，透过别人慷慨的馈赠，让我们得着供应。

主啊，当我们甘心、无私地全然将一切奉献给祢，
求祢帮助我们记得一切本都属于祢。