Inestimable Gift
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majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine.... 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
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have we given Thee. For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners,
as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there
is none abiding. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared
to build Thee an house for Thine holy name cometh of Thine hand,
and is all Thine own. I know also, my God, that Thou triest the heart,
and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine
heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen
with joy Thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto
Thee.”
It was God who had provided the people with the riches of earth,
and His Spirit had made them willing to bring their precious things for
the temple. It was all of the Lord; if His divine power had not moved
upon the hearts of the people, the king’s efforts would have been in
vain, and the temple would never have been erected.
All that men receive of God’s bounty still belongs to God. What-
ever He has bestowed in the valuable and beautiful things of earth
is placed in our hands to test us, to sound the depths of our love for
Him and our appreciation of His favors. Whether it be the treasures of
wealth or of intellect, they are to be laid, a willing offering, at the feet
of Jesus.
None of us can do without the blessing of God, but God can do
His work without the aid of man if He so choose. But He has given to
every man his work, and He trusts men with treasures of wealth or of
intellect, as His stewards. Whatever we render to God is, through His
mercy and generosity, placed to our account as faithful stewards. But
we should ever realize that this is not a work of merit on man’s part.
However great the ability of man, he possesses nothing which God did
not give him, and which He cannot withdraw if these precious tokens
of His favor are not appreciated and rightly applied. Angels of God,
whose perceptions are unclouded by sin, recognize the endowments
of heaven as bestowed with the intention that they be returned in such
a way as to add to the glory of the great Giver. With the sovereignty
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of God is bound up the well-being of man. The glory of God is the