I've been greatly encouraged reading 1 and 2 Chronicles in my quiet times recently and so thought I'd share a few of the things I feel God has been laying on my heart.
1 Chronicles 29. v1 'Soloman my own son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God.'
David is not airy-fairy about the fact that building a temple for the Lord of the universe is hard. He is realistic. Soloman is young and fairly inexperienced as a leader. He is yet to ask for wisdom from God and up until this chapter we know relatively little about his spiritual character. All we know is that David had it on his heart to build a temple for the worship of the Lord, so he has gathered materials and prepared workers with which Solomon can start off the building work.
Yet, the fact that Soloman is young and inexperienced doesn't seem to be the main reason for why the work is difficult. Often, as christians we think that the work the Lord has given us to do is tough because we face great adversity in carrying out what the world despises. We find it hard because we are persecuted, physically, mentally and/or spiritually; because our work colleagues, friends, even family forsake us; because we would quite simply rather have an easier life doing something that we enjoy far more; because we'd rather be in a different location with better or more suitable weather; because we don't like the people we will have to carry out the work with or for; because we feel inexperienced or lacking in tact and skill.
These things are most often why we may feel the work is tough, and most of them are real enough reasons! But here, the stress is on the fact that the 'palace will not be for man but for God'. The work is great because of who it is done for.
Often I foolishly think think that it's the other way around. I feel far more pressure to do the work (whatever that may be) well for other people rather than for God! Yet when the God of the universe chooses you to do a particular task, despite (or maybe because of) youth, inexperience, lack of skills or knowledge, lack of personal qualities such as patience etc, we are expected to do it willingly.
Willingness to give to the Lord's work is more important than an abundance of skills and abilities, and far more important than a lack of them! vv14-15 show this, yet of course we are sinful. We may never willingly want to complete the task God has set before us. That is why David prays in vv18-19 for God to 'keep such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of the people.' The only way that they can offer 'freely and joyously' (v17), is by God's grace working in and through them. That is why in v19 the prayer given for Soloman is that he would have a whole heart, that he would have no division or idolatry within his heart but that he would be completely consecrated to the work and so 100% committed. Even in the previous chapter David makes a point of reminding Soloman exactly who he is working for and therefore how indeed he should work:
'And you, Soloman my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches the hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him , he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.'
The only way we can carry out the work for the Lord both well and willingly is when we realise who it is we are truly working for, thus throwing ourselves upon God's goodness and asking Him to change us.
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