Can you imagine the glory of the first temple built to worship the One True God? Even by today’s standards it must have been glorious, but imagine what it would be like in the times of Solomon, when the builders worked with crude implements, wore robes of rough woven cloth and had sandals that were pieces of leather tied on with thin strips of leather. I become overwhelmed at the thought of having the ability to build so great a temple to the Lord.
In the present day, God continues to ask us to build a glorious temple to him; He does not require a temple of gold, but instead He wants a temple of our mind, spirit and body devoted solely to loving and serving Him. If we give Him everything that we are, everything that He has given us, then we can answer the question, “Who am I…to give as generously as this?” with “I am a child of God, well blessed and well-loved.”
1 Chronicles 29:14–19 (NIV)
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
18 Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
19 And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”
What we need to build in our businesses and our lives is devotion to the Lord to keep His commandments in all that we do. We must build palatial structures within our hearts and within the world, wherever we are! In all that we are and all that we do, make everything a palatial structure worthy for the Lord to dwell within.
Author: Lea A. Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM GMC
Copyright ©2012 Lea A. Strickland
All Rights Reserved
