How carefully are we building the house of God? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 22.
Were foreigners involved in preparing for Israel’s most sacred site?
Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!” So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God. David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David. (1 Chr 22:1-4 NLT)
Like David, does each generation prepare for what the next generation will build?
David said, “Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon his son, “As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. But Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of peace. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ (1 Chr 22:5-10 WEB)
As David provided physical resources, what spiritual resources are we providing the next generation to build God’s church?
“Now, my son, may the Lord be with you so that you may successfully build the temple of the Lord your God, as he promised you. May the Lord be sure to give you insight and understanding so that when he appoints you over Israel, you will observe the Instruction from the Lord your God. Then, if you carefully follow the regulations and case laws that the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel, you’ll prosper. Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or lose heart! With great effort I’ve now provided for the Lord’s temple one hundred thousand kikkars of gold, one million kikkars of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed, as well as wood and stone, though you may add to these. You also have innumerable people to do the work: stonecutters, masons, and carpenters with every skill required for any task, whether in gold, silver, bronze, or iron. So get to work, and may the Lord be with you.” (1 Chr 22:11-16 CEB)
As a pioneering generation built a church, what must the next generations do to continue that work?
David then gave orders for the leaders of Israel to help Solomon. David said: The Lord our God has helped me defeat all the people who lived here before us, and he has given you peace from all your enemies. Now this land belongs to the Lord and his people. Obey the Lord your God with your heart and soul. Begin work on the temple to honor him, so that the sacred chest and the things used for worship can be kept there. (1 Chr 22:17-19 CEV)
What are we building? Who is the foundation? Will some of what men built on Christ be rewarded and some be burned up?
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Cor 3:10-15 ESV)
Upon what is God’s household built, church fathers, popes, councils, reformers or others? Where are the records of what the apostles, prophets and Jesus Christ taught?
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. (Eph 2:20 HCSB)
How carefully are we building the house of God? You decide!
