The Grace (and Duty) of Giving

I'm reading the Bible in one year and the Old Testament reading for Aug 9 is 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30.

"But who am I [David], and who are my people [the Israelites], that we should be able to give as generously as this [in building a house for the LORD]? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." - 1 Chronicles 29:14 (NIV)

May we be faithful stewards of all that the Lord has entrusted us with.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?" - Luke 16:10-12 (NIV)

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" - Luke 17:7-10 (NIV)

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (NIV)

Every good gift, all that we need and cherish
Comes from the Lord in token of His love
We are His hands, stewards of all His bounty
His is the earth and His the heavens above

Praise to Thee, O Lord, for all creation
Give us thankful hearts that we may see
All the gifts we share and every blessing
All things come of Thee
All things come of Thee

Link: Building for the Kingdom (8 Jan 09)