Are you willing to do something for the Lord? Well, then, do it! Don’t stop at being willing.
In 1 Chronicles, David wanted to find a way to demonstrate his love for the Lord. This love was so deep, and so real that it created a drive for him to do something! He knew that he could not build the temple, but he wanted to DO something! So, he started a fundraising effort for the future construction. His hope was that others shared his love for the Lord, and they would be driven to do something, and give.
1 Chronicles 29:5 The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
Those that loved the Lord, rejoiced at the opportunity to have a part in this project.
1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
The people had a love for the Lord and that created a willing heart to do something. In this passage I noticed that they did not stall-out at being willing, they met willingness with action. “With a perfect heart, they offered willingly to the LORD.” Sometimes, I think we make willingness synonymous with doing, but they are not interchangeable.
In my conversation with the Lord, he used this passage to show me that, in a certain aspect of my life, I need to take my willingness to the next level and actually do something with it. Willingness produces no fruit, and willingness accomplishes nothing. I will ask you the same question that I felt the Lord asking me: Why have you stalled-out? When are you going to turn your willingness into action?
As I continued my conversation with the Lord, I had to admit that I have truly stalled-out! But when I consider starting, thoughts about what others will think, and worry about criticism consumed my ability to take action.
All of my thoughts were serving only to keep me from action. In this situation, my desire to please others has crippled me from pleasing my Lord. I need to take action. I need to be strong and do it.
1 Chronicles 28:10 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Worrying about what others will think, or what they will do in response to my effort serves no purpose. It is something that the Lord has given me to do. I love him. I am willing, and so I can take these elements and convert them into ACTION.
So, what is keeping you from taking action? For me, my desire to please others grew larger than my desire to please my Lord. Getting this in alignment will help me cross the hurdle of converting my willingness into actions. What is holding you back? Oh, how the following verse hit home!
Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
If the Lord has something that he has given us to do, we have to actually perform that action. However, so many times we get caught up in the planning, or fear stops us in our tracks and we never arrive at the doing. This leads to penury – poverty. No result. No profit.
Who then is willing? We need to be doing. Stop planning, stop waiting… just do it.
1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
This instruction in the Bible were the words from David to his son, Solomon. However, I re-read them as God’s words to me, and they are God’s words to you.
“My Child, be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for I am with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. I will be with you until you have finished the work that I have given you to do.”
Have a face to face conversation with your Lord!
Related Bible Passages
1 Chronicles 29
Psalms 134
Proverbs 14
2 John 1
If you are interested in having a collection of these devotional conversations, consider purchasing the devotional book, Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 1 or Conversations: Face to Face with Your Lord Book 2. They are available from Amazon by clicking on the titles above.
Glory, Strength, & Beauty 