August 3, 2025
1 Chronicles 29:10-14
“Open-Handed: Stewarding well what God Gives”
Week 1 – “It’s Not Yours (And That’s Good News)”
Service Overview: In 1 Chronicles 29, David declares that everything in heaven and earth belongs to the Lord. When we begin with this truth, it reorients how we view our possessions, time, and even our abilities. Generosity starts with recognizing God as the source of all things and giving back as an act of worship.
Memory Verse for the Week:
1 Chronicles 29:14 – 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.
Background & Technical Insights:
- The occasion of this prayer was the great closing scene of David’s life… The prayer is a thanksgiving for the assurance David had received that the accomplishment of the great purpose of his life, the erection of a temple to Jehovah, was virtually secured. … The princes and the people had caught his own enthusiasm and lavishly supplemented the bountiful provision already made for the future work. … Every possible preparation had been made that could be made, and the aged king poured out his heart in praise to God for His grace and favor. (William Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, www.studylight.org)
- According to 22:14, the spoils of battle devoted to the Lord amounted to 3,750 tons of gold and 37,500 tons of silver. David added from his own wealth 110 tons of gold and 260 tons of silver (v. 4). This means that David was responsible for providing 3,860 tons of gold and 37,760 tons of silver. But the king then urged his leaders to give generously to the “building fund” (vv. 6–9), and they contributed 190 tons of gold, plus another 185 pounds, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron, as well as precious stones. This sounds like Paul’s “gold, silver, and precious stones” (1 Cor. 3:12). The remarkable thing about the leaders and their offering is that they gave willingly and “rejoiced with great joy” at the privilege! (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 609)
- 10-19. Wherefore David blessed the Lord—This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervor of devotional feeling—in the ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the people, and in solemnly and earnestly commending the young king and his kingdom to the care and blessing of God. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, biblehub.com)
What is Biblical Stewardship?
The grateful and faithful management of all God entrusts to us—for His glory, the good of others, and the advancement of His kingdom.
(Deut. 10:14; 1 Chr. 29:11; Ps. 24:1; Hag. 2:8; Mat. 25:14–30; 1 Cor. 4:2; 2 Cor. 9:6–11)
How does this text help us better understand what Biblical stewardship is all about?
- It reframes ownership: We manage what God owns.
(vv. 10–11a cf. Deut. 10:14; Job 41:11; Ps. 24:1; 50:10–12; Rom. 11:36; Col. 1:16)
We cannot add time; we can only exercise stewardship over the time we are given. (Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead, 186)
If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward’s mentality toward the assets He had entrusted – not given – to me. A steward manages assets for the owner’s benefit. The steward carries no sense of entitlement to the assets he manages. It’s his job to find out what the owner wants done with his assets, then carry out his will. (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, 24)
- It reframes blessing: Realizing we receive more by grace than we gain by effort.
(vv. 11b–12 cf. Deut. 8:17–18; John 3:27; 1 Cor. 4:7; 2 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 1:3; Jam 1:17)
Generosity is impossible apart from our love of God and of His people. But with such love, generosity not only is possible but inevitable. (John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 452)
How could we enjoy heaven…if during our lifetime we had used most of our time, treasure, and talents for ourselves and our select group? (Daniel Fuller, The Unity of the Bible, 163)
- It reframes giving: We give back what was never ours to begin with.
(vv. 13–14 cf. Prov. 3:9; Mal. 3:10; Mark 12:41–44; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:10–11)
Giving is a “grace” as it demonstrates that God has met your needs and that His grace has inclined you to give to others. (Kent Hughes, 2 Corinthians, 40)
Our giving is but a reflex of God’s giving. (Sam Storms, Pleasures Evermore, 64)
How believers handle their money is inextricably related to the depth of their worship. Whether we put money in the offering plate or not, weekly worship should remind us of our continual stewardship of the possessions that Lord has entrusted to us. If we do not give properly we cannot worship properly. (John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 453)
Conclusion: If everything belongs to God—our time, talents, and resources—then how should we respond?
- Renew our thinking – Starting each day remembering, “It’s not mine—it’s His.”
(Ps. 90:12; Prov. 3:5–6; Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 2:5; Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:2; 1 Peter 1:13)
All Christians are but God’s stewards. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving Him. (John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, 108)
God owns it all and [you] are stewards of His resources… Because you are stewards of the resources God has entrusted to you, every financial decision you make is actually a spiritual decision. For many, that’s a revolutionary concept. How you manage your finances is a pretty good barometer for the condition of your spiritual life. (Dennis Rainey, Preparing for Marriage, 195)
- Recalibrate our heart – Letting gratitude, not guilt, shape our approach to what we have.
(Ps. 103:1–2; 2 Cor. 9:7; Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6; Col. 3:15; 1 Thes. 5:18; Heb. 12:28)
There are three kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving. Grudge giving says, “I have to”; duty giving says, “I ought to”; thanksgiving says, “I want to” (Robert Rodenmeyer, Quoted in John Blanchard, Gathered Gold, Evangelical Press, 1984, p. 113)
Gratitude is a handmaiden of contentment. An ever-growing attitude of gratitude will certainly make us more content since we will be focusing more on what we do have, both spiritually and materially, than on what we do not have. But contentment is more than focusing on what we have. It is focusing on the fact that all we do have; we have by the grace of God. We do not deserve anything we have, materially or spiritually. It is all by His grace. (Jerry Bridges, Transforming Grace, 199
- Reorder our living – Actively stewarding our time, talents, and resources with eternal purposes in mind.
(Mat. 6:19–21; 25:14–30; Rom. 14:12; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Gal. 6:9–10; Eph. 5:15–16)
God is pleased when you give beyond your ability to give. The point is God is pleased when you give sacrificially. Salvation is free, but stewardship is costly. Few of us really give sacrificially. Most of us adjust our standard of giving to our standard of living. Instead, we should adjust our standard of living to our standard of giving. (Rod Rogers, Pastor Driven Stewardship, 55)
Let us walk as stewards and not act as owners, keeping for ourselves the means with which the Lord has entrusted us. He has not blessed us that we may gratify our own carnal mind but for the sake of using our money in His service and to His praise. (George Muller, The Autobiography of George Muller, 195)
Gospel Connection…
The gospel reminds us that God is not a distant giver of things—He is the gracious Giver of Himself.
(John 3:16; Rom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 8:9; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:2; Titus 2:14; 1 John 4:9–10)
Could any title be greater than this, that He gave Himself for us unworthy wretches? And being God, what better gift could He offer than Himself? Hence, if one seeks for God’s claim upon our love here is the chiefest: Because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). (Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God, 12th century)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What part of David’s prayer (1 Chr. 29) stood out to you and why?
- How does viewing God as the owner of everything change how we handle our time, talents, and treasures?
- What’s one thing you’ve always considered “yours” that this passage challenges you to view differently?
- Compare this passage with James 1:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:7. What do these verses add to our understanding of blessing and grace?
- How can generosity help us combat greed or anxiety?
- What does it mean to give out of worship, not obligation?
- Have you experienced a time when giving brought unexpected joy?
- Where might God be calling you to be more open-handed?
Quotes to note…
No amount of human machinery and organization can take the place of heartfelt consecration to the Lord. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 608)
True generosity is not the prerogative of those who enjoy an adequacy of means. The most genuine liberality is frequently displayed by those who have least to give. Christian giving is estimated in terms not of quantity but of sacrifice. (Philip Hughes, 2 Corinthians, 288)
Christian giving is to be marked by self-sacrifice and self-forgetfulness, not by self-congratulation. (John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, 131)
Sins such as envy, jealousy, covetousness, and greed very markedly reveal a focus on self. Instead you are to please God and bless others by practicing biblical stewardship which is to care for and give of the physical and spiritual resources that God has provided for you. (John Broger, Self-Confrontation Manual, Lesson 10, Page 4)
We should use all our money for the Lord. This is, we should use all our money in a way that God would approve. In that sense, all of our money is to be given to the Lord. Stewardship is to be total, not partial. (Wayne Mack, Strengthening Your Marriage, 104)
It is never said in so many words that we are to give 10% in the NT, though it is worth pointing out that the tithe was not original to Moses and the Mosaic law. It is found early in the life of God’s people. Abraham paid a tithe to Melchizedek in Gen. 14, if you remember. There is some case there for arguing that the tithe is basic to human life as God ordered it. But, if you are not persuaded of that, remember that if the 10th is not our rule any longer, surely in the NT we are not going to argue that we should give less! We are not going to argue that having seen the Lord on the cross, having witnessed the resurrection, knowing as we now do what price was paid for our redemption, we should give less than they did in the OT? Surely not. Jesus, remember, makes a point of calling attention to the generous gift of a poor woman when she was worshipping at the temple and Paul makes a good deal of the sacrificial financial stewardship required of Christian believers. Now, perhaps we like the tithe after all! (Robert Rayburn, Sermon: Studies in Malachi No. 9, March 16, 2003)
You may think, No problem there. I’m putting my church and ministries in my will. By all means, do your estate planning and give heavily to God’s kingdom. But what kind of trust does it take to part with your money once you die? You don’t have any choice! Death isn’t your best opportunity to give; it’s the end of your opportunity to give. God rewards acts of faith done while we’re still living. (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, 68)
The snow covers many a dunghill; so doth prosperity many a rotten heart. (Thomas Brooks)