King David wasn’t allowed to build the Temple, but he was allowed to help prepare for its construction. David planned and worked so that when his son Solomon became King, he would have a head start on building the Lord’s temple. But for all of David’s preparation, it would still require Solomon’s work.
In 1 Chronicles 22:14, David told his son, “With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add.” Those final words are important: “To these you must add.”
As parents, we should do everything possible to equip our children to follow the Lord. But ultimately, it must be their choice to do so. Also, we cannot simply ride the coattails of our parents’ faith. We must add to their faith and do our part to honor and serve God.