1 Chronicles 29:14

14 "But me - who am I, and who are these my people, that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we're doing is giving back what we've been given from your generous hand.

1 Chronicles 29:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I
Originally dust and ashes, a sinful creature, unworthy to receive anything from God, and of having the honour of doing anything for him:

and what is my people:
subject to him, the least of all people, separated from the nations round about them, and despised by them:

that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort?
that they, who were a poor people, some years ago brought out of Egyptian bondage, should now be possessed of such an affluence, and have such a generous heart and liberal spirit given them, as to contribute in so large and liberal a manner as they had done; all was owing to the goodness of God to them, and the efficacy of his grace upon them:

for all things come of thee;
all good things, temporal and spiritual; the Lord is the fountain of goodness, and Father of mercies:

and of thine own have we given thee;
for there is nothing a man has but he has received from the Lord, and therefore can give nothing to him but his own, see ( Romans 11:35 Romans 11:36 ) .

1 Chronicles 29:14 In-Context

12 Riches and glory come from you, you're ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all.

13 And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you, praising your splendid Name.

14 "But me - who am I, and who are these my people, that we should presume to be giving something to you? Everything comes from you; all we're doing is giving back what we've been given from your generous hand.

15 As far as you're concerned, we're homeless, shiftless wanderers like our ancestors, our lives mere shadows, hardly anything to us.

16 God, our God, all these materials - these piles of stuff for building a house of worship for you, honoring your Holy Name - it all came from you! It was all yours in the first place!