“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).

“…grant to Solomon my son a whole heart…” (1 Chronicles 29:19).

I liked that they weren’t giving because they were happy and rejoicing, but that they were rejoicing because they had given willingly. It feels good to give willingly, not out of obligation.

The repeated phrase here is “a whole heart.” We’re to love God with all our heart and all our mind and all our soul and strength. We’re to love God with a whole heart. We need to beware of anything dividing our heart.

Everyone knows the first half of James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Do you know the second half? How does one draw near? “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” To draw near to God we need to be of one mind, one heart, not divided in our attention or affection.

We’re told that we will end up hating the one master if we try to serve two (Matt. 6:24).

We can pray like David, “…unite my heart to fear your name” (Ps. 86:11).