(King David prayed) “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.” (1 Chronicles 29:14-17)

Just because God had denied King David the honor of building the temple didn’t mean David couldn’t run a capital campaign.

And that’s precisely what David did. David’s son Solomon was to be the one to build the temple. But David prepared the way with a capital campaign.  

It’s humbling to read the list of what David contributed to the effort – gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and more. We believe that David gave joyfully and sacrificially. But the source of David’s joy was not just in what he gave, but in what he witnessed from others.

As David presented his gifts for the building of the temple he also observed, “All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.” David’s joy was not only in what he gave, but by seeing the involvement and the gifts of others as well.  

God takes great joy in observing the same.

One of the joys of a capital campaign is seeing the collective gifts and sacrifice of God’s people for this ministry effort. There is joy in your own personal giving, but there is also joy in the combined participation of others. Don’t miss the opportunity to thank God for not only what He has prompted you to give, but what God is doing in the lives of others as well.