Ecclesiastes reminds us that “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (REV). There are seasons for waiting and seasons for action. Seasons for planting and seasons for harvesting. Seasons for laying foundations and seasons for building.
Building is often a worthwhile endeavour. Whether it’s your house, your family, your career, your car, your ministry, or your ego. Building is part of God’s idea for humanity — it ties in closely with our God-given calling to steward God’s creation. Yet Scripture also gives a necessary warning:
“If Yahweh does not build a house, those who built it labored in vain.” — Psalm 127:1 (REV)
The issue is not whether we are building something, but whether the Lord is building it. We can expend enormous effort pursuing plans, ministries, ambitions, and even good works, and still miss what God himself is doing.
Discerning Before Building
This is why Paul exhorts the believers:
“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you can test and approve what the will of God is — what is good and pleasing and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 (REV)
Before we can build rightly, we must learn to discern rightly. God’s will is not discovered merely by activity, enthusiasm, or even necessity. It is discerned through minds continually renewed by him, in service and sacrifice to him, in union with the body of Christ, for the glory of God, in accordance with our gifts and abilities — in love, enthusiasm, diligence, and cheerfulness. (I’d recommend reading the rest of Romans 12 while you’re there.)
More Than a Finished Project
When Solomon’s temple was dedicated, the people had reached the culmination of a great building project. But was that the climax? Not at all:
“Now when Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh because the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh. All the children of Israel looked on when the fire came down and the glory of Yahweh was upon the house, and they kneeled down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to Yahweh, saying, ‘For he is good, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.’” — 2 Chronicles 7:1–3 (REV)
Imagine that. The work had been completed, sure. But then God’s manifest presence came and was so overwhelming that the priests could no longer continue their ministry as usual.
Built Together As His Dwelling
What a picture. Yet the temple itself was never the ultimate destination. This whole episode points forward to Christ, and to the people of God who would become his dwelling place, putting an end to the works of the law.
“So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. In union with him the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, and in union with him you also are being built together into a place where God dwells through the spirit.” — Ephesians 2:19–22 (REV)
The goal was never simply the construction of a house, but the filling of that house with the glory and presence of God.
So What Are You Building?
Perhaps there is a lesson for us in that. We can become so focused on building that we forget what the building is for. God’s purpose is not merely productive Christians, busy churches, successful ministries, or completed plans. His purpose is a people filled with his presence and conformed to the image of his Son.
So whatever season the Lord has placed you in — what are you building, and who is it for?
Seek first to know his mind. Let him renew your thinking. Build what he calls you to build. Labour faithfully where he has placed you. But above all, desire that his presence would fill the house — because unless the Lord builds it, our labour is in vain. But when he fills it, everything else finds its proper place, and we find true peace and rest from our labour.
(True peace — true shalom — doesn’t necessarily mean “not working.”)
In Christ,
Paul