A Gift Called Life

In 1 Chronicles 29, Israel’s leaders are asked to give toward building God’s temple. They gave willingly—gold, silver, precious stones, more than was asked for—and the whole nation ends up celebrating because of the joy behind it.

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.
1 Chronicles 29:9 ESV

Allison, a Messianic Jew who’s been listening to Family Life Radio for four years, gives with that same kind of intention. In Jewish tradition, gifts are often given in multiples of 18—the numerical value of the Hebrew word chai, meaning “life.” Allison took that further: she gave three times chai, then doubled it again, turning her monthly gift into a deliberate, layered picture of gratitude.

She just wanted her giving to mean something—the same willing heart that made all of Israel rejoice.

A gift given from a willing heart multiplies the joy.

It would’ve been easy for Allison to give a round number and call it done. Instead, she built her gift around the word for life itself, then doubled it—an offering shaped entirely by what she believes God has done for her.

That’s what David and the people of Israel understood too. The amount wasn’t the point. The freedom to give it was.

Generosity given freely, on purpose, out of gratitude is worth celebrating—whatever the number looks like.

Today’s One Thing
Give something this week—your time, a gift, an act of kindness—not because you have to, but because gratitude moves you to.

Go Deeper

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