Advance Commitment

Introduction/Scripture

1 Chronicles 19:1–5 NIV

In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away. When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

1 Chronicles 29:14 NIV

“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.

Pray.

I first learned about the power of generosity in the first church I served. My senior pastor at the time was the epitome of generous. He modeled it and was a servant in ways I never understood. Have you heard me introduce myself as one of the pastors at FMC? That was something I learned from him. He gave space for others, sacrificed for others. When there were difficult financial years, he took a pay cut before he ever asked us to sacrifice anything. And because of that I watched staff and leadership begin to model that very thing. It was never taught or expressed formally, it just kind of spread. Like God was doing something in the midst of it…. hint, I believe God was.

in 1 Chronicles, David is about to model this kind of leadership and it will spread from the leaders but more importantly throughout the whole community.

v. 1, Solomon is chosen to build the temple that will have eternal implications.

Solomon is young/inexperienced and cannot do this alone

V. 2, David leverages everything he has personally to bring his FIRST and BEST.

Lauren and I are bringing our first and best. We believe the vision is worth the sacrifice and we have done the work of praying through what our first and best if for our family.

Verse 5: David asks, who will follow my example?

I want to do what David does in this passage. David does not predetermine what they should give. He does not pretend to know. But he is very clear in asking.

You are here tonight as leaders, even if you wouldnt call yourself that. I am. I am asking you to give to believing together.

The leaders gave willingly, the scripture says. This was not a guilt response or some pressure, it was a response from what God had done in them.

Then what happens when they do?

1 Chronicles 29:9 NIV

The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

The success of the task was directly tied to what the leaders were doing.

There are some at FMC, a small amount, but some for sure, that are waiting and watching.

Two questions leaders must consider:

Is this vision worth our sacrifice?

What does sacrifice look like for us?

There are 2 groups of people here tonight in this room:

Those who came in with a number.

Those who did not.

Therefore, there are two choices leaders have the option to make:

Safe choice

Courageous choice

Note: there are some people/leaders who need to make a safe choice. They are experiencing some serious circumstances that prevent them from making a larger commitment (job lose or transition, medical hardships, extreme debt, etc.)

BUT for most people/leaders in the room, they have an opportunity to make the courageous choice. They can take a bold step of faith. They can move beyond the question, “what can we afford to give?” And ask/prayer a bold prayer: “God, what do you want to do through me/us to see this vision come to pass?

Vs. 14, David ponders out of a sense of absolute awe of what God has done…” But who am I and who are your people that we should give anything to you?” David knows are we ONLY and MERELY stewards of what God has FIRST given us (Ortberg’s, “When the game is over, it all goes back in the box”)

1 Chronicles 29:10–13 NIV

David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

Amen.

So here is what we want to do. We are going to just pause for prayer. If you came with someone and you would like to talk and pray together then please do. There are commitment cards in the pews. And after a few moments, when youre ready, the altar is open. You can come and place them here.