A Treasure Of Mine Own

by Toms, A. F. | Category: General | Sept 1955

"A treasure of mine own" was how David described the three

thousand talents of gold and seven thousand talents of silver, which he gave to the house of God. (See 1 Chronicles 29.) For many years he had laboured to prepare enough for the building of God's house. He says, "In my affliction I have prepared," and David looks for yet something more to give to the Lord. Yes, he has a treasure, something which was entirely his own, and it was in his power to do with it as he liked. But David had learned, as later he says that "all things come of Thee," and what better could he do than give it back again to the Giver? It was a noble expression of his love for God, and for God's house, and such an example could not fail to impress others. Little wonder then, when the call went out, "Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto the LORD ? " that the response was great, and "the princes and the captains ... with the rulers offered willingly," and they gave for the service of the house of God.

What have we to give to God's house today? Faithful men before us have laboured, sometimes through affliction, and often at great personal cost, to build according to the pattern of God's will and we have come into the heritage which they have left. Now there' is room, and need, for the offerings of our affection. What have we to give? Maybe not much of the type of treasure which David gave, but remember that that was but the fruit of his affection, and there is no doubt that it was the love of his heart that the LORD valued far more than anything else. David had given himself to the LORD. That was evident when at the early age of seventeen he strode down into the vale of Elah to fight the LORD'S battle, and won it gloriously! His life was the LORD'S, and that was his biggest treasure. Is not this a treasure which each of us has? Yes, and it is ours to give or to keep. Of the Macedonians it is recorded that "first they gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8.5). Our lives are our own, and yet not our own, for we have been " bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6.20). We belong to Christ, because He has bought us with His own blood, and now it remains for us to yield ourselves to Him.

What is our response to be? If we yield it will mean that we shall no longer live to please ourselves. Henceforth it will be Christ first in everything. The way we spend our time and our money will need to be considered in the light of whether it will please Him. He said, "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9.23). Saying' "No" to ourselves is perhaps the most difficult part of all, for by nature we love our own way. But it was on this very point that David yielded. Mark what the Lord says! "I have found David, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will" (Acts 13.22). And before David could say "Yes" to the will of God he must have said "No" to himself. Are we prepared for that? If we are, the flood gates of joy and power will be opened in our lives, and we shall go forward to an experience of fulness and blessing, which we have never known

before. Let us ponder the matter in the light of Gethsemane! The will of God never cost more than when the Cross loomed so near to the Lord Jesus, with all its agony and shame. For our sakes He said, "Not My will, but Thine be done." Shall we not then, for His sake, willingly yield ourselves to Him? In affection for the Lord and His house let us gladly say,

"Take my love, Lord, I would pour

At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and let me be

Ever, only, all for Thee."

The writer feels persuaded that it is oil this point we need to be specially exercised today. Can we not encourage one another to bring our treasures into His house, and to hold nothing back? For He is worthy of our best, our all.

Toms, A. F. | Sept 1955
General