We Like Our Effort

So King Solomon finished all his work on the Temple of the Lord. [1 Kings 7.51a]

Everything described here and in 2 Chronicles 3 & 4 speaks of extravagance. Solomon's Temple must have been quite the architectural feat by itself with its furnishings only further declaring this extravagance in exquisite detail.

All of this extravagance means something too. It symbolizes the extent of detail and labor involved with the Law of God and Israel.

Although this Temple was eventually destroyed and another less glorious one built to replace it, there remained a symbolic 'effort' put into this place for God. It was this representation of 'effort' that Jesus indicated would be destroyed and which statement by Jesus consequently brought great ire upon Him.

We people like our effort. I dare say, we worship our effort. There was great meaning in the Temple being destroyed - in God allowing the Temple to be destroyed. It clearly showed that God is not so interested in our effort. This is especially true when we exert effort "for God" and in the end worship the effort instead of God!

Whether we are building a church, a ministry, or whatever... we must be sure to keep God the focal point and not the effort!

Father, thank You for this reminder today to stay focused on You!