Thursday, May 20, 2010

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Help Wanted

This past week as I've been reading 1Chronicles, David is now coming to the end of his life and giving instructions to his son, Solomon. He is helping Solomon with organizing his government officials as well as religious leaders. He is laying out the plans for the building of the temple. David's desire throughout his life was to build the temple for God's presence to dwell. Knowing that he would never see it come to pass, he wanted to make sure Solomon understood each detail and that it required participation. It was important for the Levites to partner with Solomon. I believe it was to give the Levites a sense of ownership, since it was their tribe who looked after the tabernacle. Unlike other kingdoms in the land that were built using slaves, this was a "family" project. When people work together on a project, it creates a unity and a connectedness. When people are called to a task with the same goal in mind, there is a natural bond that happens. It's like going on a retreat or to camp. At the beginning, you barely know your roommates and by the end it's hard to say goodbye because of the experiences you have shared have connected you spiritually.

First Chronicles 23 begins with this, "When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 He also gathered together all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. 3 The Levites thirty years old or more were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. 4 David said, "Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges. 5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose." (1 Chronicles 23:1-5)

That is a pretty large group of people just from the tribe of Levi that David is hiring to get the job done. This prompted something in my heart in regards to our participation in the body of Christ. Today many attend Church, but never participate in the community. Many Believer's live isolated and do their relationship with the Lord their way and in doing so, eventually walk away because they don't feel connected to the body of Believers. 1 Corintians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price, therefore honor God with your body." If it took thirty-eight thousand men to work on building the temple of the Lord, then why do we, who now are a temple for the Holy Spirit, live our lives alone? Notice too that each had a specific job to do.

As we begin reading the Proverbs that Solomon wrote, we will see the importance of having advisers. Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." I see so many times as people are in their journey, they refuse to include others in on their process. God's plan for us is that we would become more like Jesus and in doing so, it requires others to help chisel away the rough places in our lives. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Today I would ask that you take some time to evaluate your life. Who partners with you in your journey? Who do you partner with in their journey? Are you committed to the building of the Body of Christ that the Lord has placed you in? Or do you just show up because you live your Christian life your way? Be truthful with yourself. This is between you and God, yet His plan is that you would be connected. He said in the very begining, "It is not good for man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18) Adam already had a relationship with God, but God knew Adam needed more. Living a life as a follower of Jesus requires help. Always keep your "Help Wanted" sign posted so you don't miss out on any relationship that God brings your way that will lead you to become all God intended you to be.