1 Kings Chapter 6: Verses 11 -13 (NIV)
The word of the Lord came to Solomon: “As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.”
2 Samuel Chapter 7: Verse 7 (NIV)
‘Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
It was Solomon’s father David who had the desire in his heart to build a Temple for God. God told David that it would be Solomon who would build it, but He also reiterated that it had not been His priority to have a Temple built for Himself. Even as Solomon is carrying out the building work, God speaks to him and tells him that the most important thing that Solomon should do is to obey all of God’s laws, decrees and commands but He promised to use the Temple as His Dwelling Place on earth, as He had told David He would.
We too might have many good things in our heart that we would like to do for God. God may allow us to do some of them. But the most important thing He wants from us, just like David and Solomon is first and foremost our love and obedience. That’s far better than “doing” things, however well intentioned they are. We only need to do what God asks of us. Our lives as Christians are not all about the things we can do for Him, only being obedient in the things that He asks us to do.
Dear Lord,Thank You for Your Grace and Mercy. Help me to always distinguish between doing what You ask, and doing what I think You want. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.