Love Builds Up
God is love and He continually builds us up. He does this by breaking down what is not from Him and making us new through the kingdom blueprint that is found in Jesus Christ.
“How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced? From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!” Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
Numbers 23:3, 5, 7-9, 11-12, 20, 25-26
Balak wanted to destroy the Israelites. He had heard the stories of how God was fighting their battles so he called on Balaam, a man of God, to curse them in hopes that this would help tip the scales of power in his direction. Balak's plans failed because his ambitions were tied to what would accomplish his will, not God's. We might wonder how Balak could possibly want to do such a thing? How could he want to curse the people of God?
Let me ask you a question. Do you ever wish harm on others? In your moments of frustration, annoyance, or anger, do you ever have the thought that you wished someone else would experience a harsh consequence or have something happen to them? James says the tongue is like the rudder of a ship. He says it is hard to tame. How can we curse the people whom God loves? Jesus says love your enemies as He teaches us that God loves all people. Do we? Do we use our words at all times, in all situations to build up others out of a heart of love?
“Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed. I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.”
Psalms 140:1-2, 5-8, 12-13
David must have experienced the pain that comes from criticism and public scorn as much as anyone as king. It has been said that you are not paranoid if people really are out to get you. People were out to get David and they were cursing him as king. There is a natural tendency to want to tear down those in power. Look at our world. We have the term cancel culture for a reason. David cries out to not let the cancel culture of his time overtake the kingdom he is stewarding.
There is much to be learned from the man who had a heart after God. How did David handle the evil schemes and trash talk? He turned to God. He trusted God with the outcomes and with the offense. He does not pray that God would give him the strength to fight them. He does not try to solve the problems himself and throw gasoline on the fires of offense. He stands on the truth that God is faithful, just, present and cares personally about our battles. What is your process? Are you dealing with anyone who has said something, done something, or harmed you? Will you choose to follow David's example?
“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes. Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins."
Ecclesiastes 7:1-5, 7-8, 10, 13-14, 16, 18, 20, 29
Don't we all want to have a good name. What do you think people think when they hear your name? Does your name point to the name above all names? Solomon's name meant peace and he found peace through pursuing God. Solomon speaks often about reshaping our perspectives. Much of what he teaches mirrors the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Look at what he teaches. Isn't what he says counterintuitive? Would you say the day of death is better than the day of birth or rather be mourning than dancing? What does it mean to be over-righteous or overwise? Wisdom says that those who fear God, or have a godly perspective, will avoid all extremes? Why would this be? Have you ever been around people who are so "righteous" but you leave their presence feeling unloved? How about people who are so smart that they make you feel dumb? Is that loving? Solomon says that no one is perfect, only God is perfect. At the core of his teaching, Solomon is challenging us to have humble hearts and encourages us to change the way we are thinking about life so that we might learn to live lives that honor God.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. “I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.”
Ezekiel 17:3-10, 12, 22-24
The kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom when compared to the kingdoms of the world. Ezekiel is echoing the theme of each of the passages of the day that God's love gives you what you need to conform to who God makes you to be and to give Him glory. God has a bigger plan and better purposes for each of us than what we might see in the current moment.
The green tree can be like the person who is proud. For the proud person what they might need most is to be humbled that they would turn to God. For the dry tree, what they need most is living water. Dry trees are likely low on hope and feeling down on life. The most loving thing God can do for the dry tree is to make it flourish once more. Which tree are you? What do you need from God to help you draw closer to Him?
“We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 8-9
Love builds up. Is this your greatest desire today? Is your hope that you build up others? What if this was the filter for all of your words, all of your actions, and your daily attitude? What if this is what we used in determining how much we gave and where we served? What if we were to ask Jesus how we could best build up each person we met that God would be glorified at all times?
Paul contrasts love and knowledge. Why? Consider what knowledge does. Does it not build up our belief that we are right and increase our pride? Knowledge says I know that I am right and likely implies that you are wrong. How does that impact our relationship with God and with others?
Love says how can I help you find healing and rightly serve you. Agape, the Greek word for love, is self-sacrificial and seeks the good of others at one's own cost. There is a cost to love. There is an expression that you can be right or you can be in relationship. Is that not the same point that Paul is trying to make as he challenges his audience? Paul is not against knowledge. He is against anything that is not done in love because God is love and to love is to serve God. How are you uniquely gifted to build up others today? How can you glorify God through how you love the world around you? Consider pausing and asking God to show you a face of someone that He wants you to love today.