God brings incredible resources and talent together

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I love how everything in Chronicles has been leading up to this. We’ve seen lots of ways God has provided resources, people, inspiration, examples of faithfulness and leadership – everything a community needs to get Big Stuff Done.

Now the focus moves to Israel’s first temple, a physical representation of God’s presence, provision and power. The first thing which strikes me is sheer amount of luxurious bling David has procured for it: “more bronze than could be weighed,” “more cedar logs than could be counted,” and, among many other things, “a hundred thousand talents of gold,” worth well over £100 billion at today’s prices. But forget about that… what on earth could you possibly do with over 3,000 tons of gold? Can you even imagine?!

I love that David could. Not only that, he had been given the vision to enlist “craftsmen beyond number”, thousands of worship leaders and musicians in 24 massive bands and, in more than you might expect for a worship place, “six thousand officials and judges.” This was not just a place to sing nice songs but a house for justice and good life reflecting what God wants to provide, not just receive.

I’m struck by David’s role in getting this together and how this is described. David has a keen sense of God’s provision, including his inspiration and instructions. But the author credits David as the provider of the resources. This goes along with acknowledging the role of others like the Sidonians and Tyrians who brought him cedar logs in chapter 22, verse 4, and the role of Solomon to come who will be credited as the builder of the temple.

Crediting people for their roles is very important, but what I see here are the vital connections between people and God in providing, organising and creatively doing anything. Building new things is hard! It goes well beyond individual talent. Even the most independent creators had to get their inspiration from somewhere outside themselves. Whether or not we realise or choose this consciously, creative people are in partnerships with other creatives, diverse providers and, ultimately, with God.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

We know to read into this account that God has provided the massive abundance of stuff, talent and creativity needed for the massive temple project. But while God provides and directs, he also partners and gives responsibility and freedom for us to choose how we develop talent and put it to use. In this way, he makes us co-creators, joining in his family business of turning raw materials into valuable, inspirational, life-bringing works of wonder.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

Thank God for the roles and resources he has given me and others around me in his family and creative business, and seek his inspiration for work to do at Christmas and beyond.

Who am I going to share this with?

People at church where creative discussions are ongoing about things to make and share.