Wealth and worship
One of the most common characteristics of most wealthy men and women in the bible is that they were worshippers. This article examines the story of David and worship life, through the ark of God in the Old Testament.
The ark, in Old Testament times, represented the presence of God. The ark was an important part of David’s life as well. David loved the presence of God. This also gives us a clue as to how he became wealthy.
When David decided to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem he was so enthusiastic that he commanded it done before first finding out how it should be done. David did not fully follow the ways and instructions, that God had previously given to the Israelites. As a result, God struck down a man who attempted to touch the ark to keep it from falling off an ox cart.
David was disappointed and abandoned the project for another three months. He went back to Jerusalem to find out from the priests what he’d done wrong. During those three months, the ark was sent to the house of a man named Obed Edom. After David learned God’s rules concerning the Ark, David asked how the family of Obed Edom was faring. David was told that God had blessed Obed Edom because of the ark.
“Now it was told King David, saying, ’The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.’ So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.” (2 Samuel 6:12).
Wherever God’s presence is, that’s where His prosperity is going to be as is exemplified as can been seen in the case of Obed-Edom
Psalm 1:1-3 gives us more insight into the relationship between wealth and acknowledging God’s ways:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”
David’s desire
God’s dwelling place (initially the tabernacle built by Moses) lasted from the time of Moses, through the exodus, and up to the commencement of the monarchy. David felt it was inappropriate that God’s ark should dwell in curtains. David expressed his desire to build God a temple to Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 7:2. “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
David felt the ark needed a permanent home (a temple) that should be significant “‘…[A]nd the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparations for it.’ So David made abundant preparations before his death.” (1 Chronicles 22:5 )…
The prophet Nathan brought God’s word back to David. David was not allowed to build the house for God because he had shed too much blood (2 Chronicles 22:7-8). He would not be the one to build the temple but his son, Solomon, would.
David’s desire to build a house for God brought both eternal and generational blessings to his house. These can be considered true wealth, as God makes an everlasting covenant with the house of David. The terms of the covenant include:
• The establishment of God’s kingdom through David’s lineage forever
• The privilege of David’s son (Solomon) building a house for Him
• The promise of fatherhood to David’s son
• God’s chastisement of David’s son when he disobeyed God. Hebrews 12:6 states that we should not despise the chastisement of the Lord, because God chastises those He loves
• God’s mercy never departing from Solomon
All these blessings came upon David because he desired God’s kingdom and His righteousness above all else. David was overwhelmed by God’s promise. Though David did not build God’s home- that responsibility and privilege was to belong to his son Solomon- David did two major things with regards to the temple; he ordained the institute of worship and he made material provision for the building.
Worship is an important part of wealth for the Christian
About the Author: Ola Aroyehun is the editor of ‘The Christian Business Magazine’ – a magazine dedicated to applying biblical truths to the world of business. She has a desire to see Christians be ‘students’ of the word and not just ‘readers of the world’. For more information on wealthy people of the bible, register for the free newsletter at www.christianbusinessonthenet.com.
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Print Article | Download PDF | 84 views | Mar 03 2008
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