Built to Last
The life you build will be tested to see if it stands the eternal test. Build your life on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and use His blueprints to build a life that lasts.
“The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary...They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are. But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift...Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring...The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance."
Numbers 18:1, 4, 7, 10, 12-14, 19-20, 25-26, 29
The chapters today have common themes of building, caring for the temple, and finding meaning in your life. Aaron and his family were the ones who were responsible for caring for the temple of God. God told them the work of serving God is a gift. Is that how you see your work? Do you see what you are doing each day as a gift of God that can be used to glorify God?
God tells the people who serve Him and care for His temple that He is their portion and their inheritance. Jesus tells us the same things as it relates to receiving the Holy Spirit as we choose to believe in Him. How does our mindset change when we consider that our work and our blessings are found in our personal relationship with Jesus rather than the possessions we can accumulate? How could that change the way we look at how we live?
“Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord, you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
Psalms 135:1-3, 15-18
Repetition adds emphasis and importance. Whenever you see repetition in writing take time to consider what is being said and why it is being said. David says to praise the Lord four times. How does how we think about praise connect to what God is building through us and how we care for the temple of the Holy Spirit?
David says don't praise false idols like money, fame, fortune, or others. Praise the Lord. God has many names, but the name David uses here is Lord. Yahweh. The name is the most sacred name for God and one that we say with every breath we breathe. It is the name that represents the personal nature of God and His covenant with His people. How can you praise the God who is personal, present, and all powerful as He guides you in His purposes?
“I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces...the delights of a man’s heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness...A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness"
Ecclesiastes 2:1-5, 8-11, 13-14, 17, 20, 24-26
Ecclesiastes is an incredibly beautiful book of the Bible as it documents how Solomon wrestled with finding meaning. Don't we all want to find meaning in life? Don't we all want to live a life that impacts others and build a legacy that lasts beyond our time on this planet? Solomon struggled to find meaning. With wisdom, he pursued everything. He pursued great wealth, all pleasures, and unparalleled accomplishments through building. The text says he denied himself nothing, yet it was all chasing after the wind. It was meaningless. Solomon discovered the sacred truth that only what God builds lasts. Only God's purposes will prevail.
There is a simplicity to the treasure hunt of truth that Solomon's journey led him to find. He might have been the one to coin the term each day is a gift that is why they call it the present. How many of us live our lives with an if/then or when/then mindset. If I had enough or when I get what I want then I will choose to do what God teaches. When I have more money then I will give. If I get want then I will serve God. The mindset of chasing possessions and temporary pleasures will leave you with a God sized hole in your life. The path to meaning comes through living in the present moment with a heart of gratitude for all that God has given you. How is your heart today? How are you feeling? How could Solomon's teaching transform how you measure success?
“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people...They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries...Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord."
Ezekiel 12:2, 15, 17-19, 22-23, 25
Repetition returns in this chapter. What is the most repetitive word? Rebellious. God wants to bring heaven to earth through the righteous people who have faithful, devoted hearts, but what He finds is constant rebellion. The very people that He made, saved, freed, and guided have chosen to go their own way. They have chosen rebellion over relationship. They have chosen to follow their ways rather than trust in His ways. Does it sound similar or different to the world that we live in today?
God is speaking. God is moving. God is building. Will we listen? Will we turn to Him? Will we respond and obey His commands? Solomon said anything we do apart from God will fade like chasing after the wind.
“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow...we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building...If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward...Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"
1 Corinthians 3:3, 7-9, 11-16, 18-23
The Lord said it is a gift to get the call to serve Him. You do not have to be a pastor in a church, worship leader in concert, or famous speaker on stage to be a servant of God. Paul says that we are all co-workers in God's service and we are given the gift of participating in bringing heaven to earth. Jesus proclaimed He has good news of great joy and that the kingdom of heaven has come near. How does that happen? It happens as we allow the Holy Spirit to fill the temple of our hearts, minds, souls, and earthly bodies then co-labor in building up the kingdom of God on earth.
Paul says that all that you build will be tested. The life you build will be tested. Like Solomon there will be a time of examination. Paul says that like Solomon all the earthly pleasures, possessions, and selfish pursuits will be revealed when they face the refining fire as either worthy or unworthy of the God in heaven. We all experience fires in our lives. Times of testing like loss, pain, or difficulty that reveal whether our lives are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ with hearts that trust God. What are the times of testing and what will the refining fire reveal with your life? Today is a gift. Will you treat it as such? Will you receive your righteous reward?
Wisdom says you will find meaning in life as you slow down and treasure each day. Wisdom says as you realize that all that you have, all that you are, and all that will ever be, has come from Yahweh then your heart will experience the joy that comes from gratitude. Truth says that Yahweh, our personal, our all-powerful God, sent His son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will participate in bringing everlasting life to all as they follow His blueprints for living.