May 26
1 Kings 4:1-34, Ps 72; 127
We read in Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good." We all seek to build something in our lives: our families and our homes, our careers and businesses, our reputation and legacies. The question is what is the cornerstone in which we build upon, and what are the materials that we are using to build it. We read in Ephesians 2:20-22, "having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." The success of a ministry does not rest upon one more seminar, or a new book of commentaries, it rests upon depending less on ourselves, less on the world's model of success, and more on seeking and depending upon Him. The success of a marriage and a family depends less on a ten step program, and more on allowing Christ to be the head of the household, not just in name, but truly seeking Him as you seek to guide your families. With Jesus as our foundation, what then are we using to build upon that. We read in 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NKJV), " For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is." We each choose what we start with and what we use to build with.
We read in Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV), " ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’" This is what Solomon did at the start of his reign as king and the results were staggering. We read some of these results in 1 Kings 4:20, 24, 29-20, " The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink...Solomon’s dominion extended over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River, from Tiphsah to Gaza. And there was peace on all his borders...God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt." Solomon didn't ask to go to the finest schools, or the wealth to start up his reign, etc. He asked for God to impart His wisdom on him, and to guide him every step of the way. He asked for God to take the lead, and for himself to take up a supporting role to God's leadership role. We read in Matthew 6:33, (NKJV), "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
How are our building projects going in our lives? Have we carefully considered the foundation and the building blocks we have used for them? This does not mean that there will not be problems, or that things might not go as we had hoped and planned. But if Christ is our foundation, and our sights are on Him, we read in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." That is not just some nice sounding Christianese hope, but a promise from God's word. God seeks to clarify our lives, while we often seek to complicate things by going our own way and thinking that we somehow know better what will work. We mistakenly believe that His counsel is outdated or has become irrelevant in today's changing times. But that is a mistake. We read in Hebrews 13:8, " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He never changes, nor does the perfection of His counsel. May we seek the wisdom of Psalm 127:1 and apply it to every facet of our lives.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: