Treasure Keepers

1 Chronicles 29:7-8; Luke 16:10-11

Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. 1 Chronicles 29:8

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. Luke 16:10

Every Sunday, the stewards come to you to collect your offerings and place them in the offering plates, which are then brought to the altar. The pastor gladly receives them with great joy and dancing because you have presented your offering unto the Lord with a grateful heart! Aren’t you curious why the pastor seems to enjoy dancing while receiving the offering plate and raising it as we bless the offering? Whenever an offering is presented, it is an act of joyful giving back to God, who owns everything we have. We present our offerings as a way to express our gratitude to God for His blessings—life, work, children, relationships, and salvation.

While giving can seem like a sacrifice, 1 Chronicles 29 presents giving marked by incredible generosity and joy. David, having prepared materials for the temple, calls the people to join him in giving. Chronicles 29:7-8 states that they gave significant amounts of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and precious stones for the construction of the temple in the custody of Jehiel.

This generosity teaches lessons about willing worship.

The Extravagance of Worship (v. 7). The large amount and variety of materials donated highlight a communal dedication to building God's house. This suggests that true worship involves giving our best.

2. The Inclusiveness of Worship (v. 8). The offering included everyone, showing that all community members have a role in supporting God's work. This emphasizes that the intention behind the gift is more important than the amount.

3. The Source of Worship (vv. 9, 14). The people gave willingly and with a "perfect heart" because they recognized that everything they owned came from God. David's prayer in verse 14 clearly states, "For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you." This outlook turns giving into a joyful act of returning what belongs to God. This passage encourages moving from limited giving to a generous, communal act of worship and gratitude. 

An essential part of our stewardship involves those who voluntarily assist the church in preserving and wisely utilizing its treasures. This is illustrated in today’s text through Jehiel, a Gershonite Levite, who served as a trusted and responsible steward of the temple's treasury during King David’s reign. As noted in 1 Chronicles 29:8, his specific role was to oversee the collection and care of precious stones and other valuable offerings donated by the people for the construction of the future temple in Jerusalem. This position carried great responsibility and required both integrity and faithfulness.

Jehiel's main responsibility was to oversee the material preparations for the temple, gathering the generous contributions of precious items from the people. As a trusted official, he ensured that these sacred gifts were managed with transparency and integrity—essential qualities for a project of this scale. The trust placed in Jehiel reflects the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where individuals are called to manage God's resources faithfully.

Jesus emphasized the importance of stewardship and faithfulness in his parable found in Luke 16:10-11. This parable highlights the choice between serving God and serving money. Faithfulness and integrity are essential qualities for Christians to embody at all times. The core message of the parable revolves around being faithful to God; demonstrating faithfulness in small matters reflects a deeper commitment. On the other hand, a lack of faithfulness with worldly possessions can hinder one’s ability to be trusted with spiritual riches. These verses encourage us to be diligent, to prioritize God’s kingdom, and to use all our resources for His glory.

Today, we want to express our appreciation for the following servant leaders to whom we entrust the management of the church's resources:

Treasurer: Rick Wasney

Financial Secretary: Glennace Rocker

Counters: Leslie Langmeyer, Elaine Degenhart, Alice Wasney, Sue Dukes, Sue Cassara, Glennace Rocker, and Janet Whitson

Trustees (Building Concerns): Chris Long and Valerie Nicholson.

We are thankful for their time, trustworthiness, and integrity. We feel fortunate to have dedicated individuals like Jehiel among us, who exemplify true integrity. Their faithfulness in small matters will earn them a significant place in God's kingdom (Luke 16:11).