I Chronicles 18:8 “Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.”
Have you ever had a good idea that was hijacked by someone else? Sometimes it can be difficult to accept and promote an idea that is not our own; but it is even more difficult when someone else gets credit for your idea!
Have you ever read about David’s Temple? That catches you off guard, doesn’t it? We know from the Bible that it was Solomon’s Temple, but it was David’s idea. You first read about David’s idea in chapter 17, verses 1-10. Building a temple for God was not Solomon’s idea, and most of the preparation was finished by David.
David said in I Chronicles 17:1, “Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.” He was wise to put God’s house above his own, and he was right to have the ambition to build it. (verse 2) In the end, David was humble for another to accept credit for it, because God sent Nathan to tell David, “Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:” (17:4)
David’s humility encourages our willingness to contribute to someone else’s work. David’s battles prepared for Solomon’s building. You can read about the spoils he took for the temple in I Chronicles 18:1-11. For you and I today, nothing of value will ever be done if our ambition is receiving credit for it.
Have you had any good ideas lately? Many good ideas are bigger than one person-from concept to completion. If an idea is good, godly, and right, it will stand on its own. May your life be characterized by a passion, creativity, and hard work, and may God get the glory for it.
“Likewise . . . brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made. . . . “
–Evangelist Chris Miller