Yesterday at prayer I sat down and read from the bible, like I usually do. I read from 1 Chronicles chapter 28, and I read about how David stood in front of the multitudes of Israel and told them, “I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD.” He wanted to build a house of rest for the presence of the Lord. The bible goes on to say, “But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.” David was not the person that God had seen to build the temple, but he used David to “make ready” the building. He gave David the exact plans of how it was to be build and what he needed to do to prepare in making this temple, but David was not the one God wanted to build it.
David could have gotten upset, he could have complained, or he could have given up, instead he told Israel that his son Solomon was the one to build the temple unto God. He could have been jealous and could have been full of wrath when God told him this, instead he lets God’s will happen and did his part. There are times when God uses us to prepare the way for something or even someone. What is your attitude when this happens? The bible says, “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” God may call one of us to plant, some of us to water, but it’s still God that gives the increase and it’s always in His perfect timing!
My final point is, what David said to his son Solomon. In verse number 20 of 1 Chronicles 28, “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it:” I like how simple and confident that statement is. Be strong, and of good courage, and do it. Sometimes it’s just that simple in our lives! We look into the sky and cry out for revival, we ask God give the increase, but He asks us to be apart of it and then we ask lots of questions; instead He wants us to be strong, and of good courage and do it. If He has called you to be a preacher, do it, if he has called you to bible college, do it, if he has called you to witness to all of your co-workers, do it, if he wants you to support your pastor, do it, and when he asks do it in the power of God and with all of your heart because the Lord our God is going to be with you. I would like this to encourage every reader and I would like to end with David’s final words in verse 20, “fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
Good point Eric. I know when I think too much about something I sometimes talk myself out of what I know I should do. Just gotta remember that God knows what He’s doing and we dont.
Good point, Eric G. Too many times when God leads us to do something, we start complaining or asking the question “why?”. We think the job is too big or too small for us. But we need to remember that God is in control and He will help us if we do it.