Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. I'm Kirsten Holmberg, and I titled

Our Devotional Reading, Who Am I? As a member of the leadership team for a local ministry,

part of my job was to invite others to join us as group discussion

leaders. My invitations described the time commitment required and outlined the ways leaders would

need to engage with their small group participants, both in meetings and during regular phone calls.

I was often reluctant to impose on other people, being aware of the sacrifice they'd be making to become a leader.

And yet sometimes, their reply would completely overwhelm me.

I'd be honored.

Instead of citing legitimate reasons to decline, they described their gratitude to God for all he'd done in their lives as their reason for being eager to give back.

When the time came to give resources toward building a temple for God in First Chronicles chapter 29, David had a

similar response, Who am I? And who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this?

David's generosity was driven by gratitude for God's involvement in his life and that of the people of Israel.

His response speaks of his humility and his acknowledgement of God's goodness toward foreigners and strangers.

Our giving to God's work, whether in time, talent or treasure, reflects our gratitude to the one who gave to us to begin with.

All that we have comes from his hand.

In response, we can give gratefully to him.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from First Chronicles, Chapter 29,

verses 14 through 20.

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.

We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow

without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple

...