I have prepared with all my might...

King David had wanted to build the LORD a temple, but God chose David's son Solomon to build it.

I Chronicles 28
2. "Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
3. "But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood."
5. "...he hath chosen Solomon."

How many times do we feel slighted if we are passed over and someone else is chosen?
Do we sit down and pout and say, "Well then, I just won't do anything."
David didn't sit down and give up.  He got busy preparing for the work of the temple!  Even though he himself wouldn't be able to do the work, he wanted to do what he could.

I Chronicles 29
2.  "Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance."

I love that phrase, "I have prepared with all my might..."  
Do we do that?  Even though we're not able to be in the limelight, or get to do a job we like, do we do the background work with all our might?
Maybe we need to do a job we even dislike, but if it is for the Lord, do we do our best?  Or are we half-hearted because we feel we should be chosen to do something more "important."  Do you presume any work of the Lord unimportant?

What was the result of David's preparation and his willingness to also give his own offering?

I Chronicles 29:9
"Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy."

The next time you're cleaning toilets at the church, or staying behind to do cleanup after everyone else has left, and maybe no one even notices, just remember that you should be doing it for the Lord.  If you're disgruntled because no one notices, you're doing it for man's approval; for self-gratification.
What you do in the background may not seem important, but it isn't done for man; it is for the Lord.

I Chronicles 29:1
"... the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God."

sMiLeS,


P.S.  Homeschool moms, and stay-at-home-moms, there was once a time when I felt so useless.  I felt like a candle burning at both ends.  My Mom told me that I was a candle.  And I was being used.  And I should be letting my light shine in my little area for my kids, because I was doing a work with them in preparing them.
You never know what your kids can become if you just let His light shine through you!

But... a confession... I didn't do that.  I was the disgruntled person.  My husband took my kids to multiple youth meetings and various revivals for years, and they eventually began reading their Bibles on their own.  They began to want to go to other church meetings.  So much so, that I never kept a calendar for I knew they'd remind us when a meeting was coming up.
I didn't always go with them, and that almost became a costly mistake.  I noticed that only one of my children always wanted to go; the other two varied, and sometimes wanted to stay home with me.  One more than the others.  I got worried and decided I'd better go with my family as much as I could, even though I like being at home.  But I began to love going as well!  The Lord has something in every sermon for me, and sometimes I'm sure it's not what the preacher intended, but I get something I need!
He does always know what we need, doesn't He?  =)

Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. 

I Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.