Building the House
Some time ago a man approached me about this article I write in the paper. He said, “You sure take a hard line approach. People would probably like it more if you lightened up.’ The man that said this to me works in construction. I thought about it later and what if he used that same mentality in his profession? People might like the affordability of his construction methods if he left out a few girders, a truss here and there, and skimped on the concrete. People would like the reduced cost but what about the finished product? It would be incomplete and in danger of collapsing. If I needed a building, I do not want the contractor leaving out important elements of the structure. The same is true with the Word of God. People’s lives are collapsing because they are not living according to the principles set forth in the Bible. Preachers are being told to “lighten up” because they might offend somebody. A minister isn’t there to be entertaining. They are there to make sure you are building correctly. You don’t want the minister to leave out key elements of the “structure” do you?
Someday every Christian will give an account of how he or she “built” in life. Or in other words; the priority they placed on living for God. Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” The Lord is not talking about a physical building here. God is using the analogy of building in one’s life. The Bible says that only building by God’s standards will have everlasting significance. Many people are building earthly, worldly resumes while their spiritual resume remains blank. There is always time for TV, sports, vacations, hobbies, and shopping. Those things in themselves are fine but when is the last time you spent an hour in prayer or two hours reading the Bible? Yet we think nothing of spending hours with the TV or movies. Am I trying to be a killjoy? No. I enjoy these things at times but I do not live on them. It’s like pie. I eat pie for a treat but I do not eat pie three times a day. I would grow unhealthy quick. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Our existence was never to be built by worldly pursuits but true success is measured by obedience to the Word.
You were created to obey God in a Father-child relationship. When we take our place as sons and daughters, He will take His place as Father. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says, “…touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you and you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty.” Why would I ever want anyone to miss this promise? Sorry sir, I will not “lighten up”.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
